A lack of statistics makes it difficult to accurately quantify the size of the recycling and greening market in South Africa.

But market role players insist it is a growing industry that will continue to prosper.

According to the Paper Recycling Association of SA, recycling will continue to expand.

The sector employs more than 20000 people and about R600-million has already been invested in related infrastructure.

Petco - an organisation for plastic bottle recyclers - believes the industry will grow more than fourfold by 2022.

While recycling has been around for some time, the greening market is relatively new, which translates into opportunity for many entrepreneurs looking for new challenges.

Socioeconomic elements are also driving market expansion and Mando Lopes, owner of Manvic Plumbing and Electrical, explains that he has adapted his business strategy following hikes in electricity prices in recent years.

Mando, who has been in business for 22 years, started focusing on greening solutions about 18 months ago.

He turned his attention to his home and cut his electricity bill in half.

He realised there was a gap in the market he could exploit. If he could achieve savings like that on the home front, other consumers of electricity would want a piece of the action.

Manvic installs rain water tanks, eco shower heads, geyser blankets and solar geysers.

Mando believes that providing these services will allow his business to grow.

"There are still a lot of opportunities we can tap into and there is a lot I can still do as a plumber," he says.

"People are becoming more aware of going green and I think there is going to be a huge boom.

"Get in now, start small and build your business up. If you get in while the market is young, there will be a lot of money to be made."

Rhodes Tanner, general manager of Wholeearth, echoes these sentiments.

While the firm focuses largely on recycling, it introduced a worm farm product a year ago. Worm farms are essentially composting platforms for organic household waste and Rhodes says the market response has been fantastic.

"It gives people another avenue to recycle more. We have had a good response to our worm farms because a lot of people want less organic materials going to land fills. Also, it stops your bins smelling."

At about R900, worm farms represent a sizeable expense for the average household, but Rhodes explains that homeowners are willing to splash their cash because they want to make a difference.

"There are a lot of opportunities available in the greening market, but entrepreneurs and investors are needed," he says.

The equipment required to pursue opportunities in the greening market often needed to be imported.

But this presents entrepreneurs with an opportunity to get in on the action and cash in.

"There will definitely be huge growth in this market in the next two to three years - people are becoming more aware and I definitely see a growth in my numbers," says Rhodes.

"People realise how (what they are doing) will impact and affect their kids."