Classification of Waste

Different types of waste may be generated from a variety of sources such as: residential, industrial, commercial, institutional, construction and demolition, municipal services, process (manufacturing, etc.) and agricultural activities.

As defined in the National Environmental Management: Waste Amendment Act (26 of 2014) waste is divided into two classes based on the risk it poses - general waste and hazardous waste.

General waste is waste that does not pose an immediate hazard or threat to health or to the environment. (Refer to General Waste section)

Hazardous waste is any waste that contains organic or inorganic elements or compounds that may have a detrimental impact on health and the environment. (Refer to Hazardous Waste section)

For a detailed list of general and hazardous waste types and definitions

• Annexure 3 of the National Waste Information Regulations
• Schedule 3 of the National Environmental Management: Waste Amendment Act (26 of 2014)

Levels of Responsibility

National government, through the Department of Environmental Affairs is responsible for the development of legislation, norms and standards and to promote and give effect to the right to an environment that is not harmful to health and well-being.

Refer to:

• Speech by Minister of Environmental Affairs at 5th Waste Management Khoro 31 May 2016

• Department of Environmental Affairs 2016/2017 Budget Vote (Minister)

• Department of Environmental Affairs 2016/2017 Budget Vote (Deputy Minister)

Provincial government is responsible for the implementation of the National Waste Management Strategy and national norms and standards, and may set additional complementary provincial norms and standards. (Refer to Provincial Departments Responsible for Environmental Affairs: contact details)

Waste management services are the constitutional responsibility of local government, who is required to provide sustainable delivery of services subject to national and provincial regulations and standards. (Refer to Waste Management Services – Municipal section)

Provincial Departments Responsible for Environmental Affairs: CONTACTS

National Pricing Strategy for Waste Management Charges: Draft

The National pricing strategy for waste management charges provides the basis and guiding methodology or methodologies for setting of waste management charges in South Africa.

Also refer to: Proposed National Pricing Strategy for waste management – a presentation at the 2015 Waste Management Summit.

National Waste Management Strategy

The aim of the National Waste Management Strategy (NWMS) is to achieve the objectives of the National Environmental Management: Waste Act 2008 (Act 59 of 2008) and provide a plan to address challenges associated with waste management in South Africa.

The NWMS has identified eight priority goals, accompanying objectives to achieve these goals and indicators to measure the achievements against targets, which are to be met within a five-year time-frame.

• Goal 1: Promote waste minimisation, re-use, recycling and recovery of waste
• Goal 2: Ensure the effective and efficient delivery of waste services.
• Goal 3: Grow the contribution of the waste sector to the green economy.
• Goal 4: Ensure that people are aware of the impact of waste on health, well-being and   environment.
• Goal 5: Achieve integrated waste management planning.
• Goal 6: Ensure sound budgeting and financial management for waste services
• Goal 7: Provide measures to remediate contaminated land
• Goal 8: Establish effective compliance with and enforcement of the Waste Act

To achieve these eight goals, the Waste Act provides a toolbox of waste management measures:

• Waste Classification and Management System – methodology for the classification of waste and provides standards for the assessment and disposal of waste for landfill disposal.
• Norms and standards - baseline regulatory standards for managing waste at each stage of the waste management hierarchy.
• Licensing –activities that require licences (with conditions) and those that do not if undertaken according to conditions or guidelines.
• Industry waste management plans – enables collective planning by industry to manage products once they become waste and to collectively set targets for waste reduction, recycling and re-use.
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) – regulates that industry is responsible beyond point of sale for particular products that have toxic constituents or pose waste management challenges, particularly where voluntary waste measures have failed.
• Priority wastes – categories of waste that, due their risks to human health and the environment, require special waste management measures, particularly where a solution requires the involvement of multiple role-players.
• Economic instruments - encourages or discourages particular behaviour and augments other regulatory instruments.

Waste Management Officers

The National Environmental Management: Waste Act 2008 (Act 59 of 2008) provides for the designation of Waste Management Officers at national, provincial and local government levels to co-ordinate matters relating to waste management and act as a point of entry available to the public to address all waste management matters. The SALGA Guideline for the designation of Waste Management Officers provides guidance.