Environmental Impact Assessments

Based on the size, the volume of waste and the nature of the waste handled, the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2014 determine that in order to obtain a waste management license CATEGORY A activities require a Basic Assessment Process and CATEGORY B activities require a Scoping and Environmental Impact Reporting Process.  Refer to the List of waste management activities that have, or are likely to have, a detrimental effect on the environment for CATEGORY A AND CATEGORY B activities.

The Basic Assessment is required for smaller scale activities that are less likely to have serious environmental impacts, and identifies:

• possible environmental impacts of the activity

• possible ways to manage or limit these impacts

• whether there are any issues or impacts that require further investigation.

The Scoping and Environmental Impact Assessment is a very costly and complex investigation required for activities that could cause higher levels of pollution, waste and environmental damage. The process identifies possible impacts on the biological, social, economic and cultural aspects of the environment

Anyone applying for a waste management license is required to appoint an independent Environmental Assessment Practitioner, at own cost, to manage the process, as well as specialists if necessary. Contact the Environmental Assessment Practitioners Association of South Africa (EAPASA) for more information.

South African Waste Information System

Anyone involved in the following activities is required to register on the South African Waste Information System (SAWIS)

• Generators of more than 20kg of hazardous waste/day
• Recovery or recycling of waste
• Energy recovery from general waste of more than 3 tons/day.
• Recovery of waste at a facility able to process more than 10 tons of general waste or more   than 500kg of hazardous waste per day.
• The scrapping or recovery of motor vehicles at a facility of more than 500m²
• Recycling of general waste at a facility of more than 500m²
• Recycling of more than 500kg hazardous waste per day
• Treatment of waste
• Treatment of general waste at a facility able to process more than 10 tons of general waste or 500kg of hazardous waste per day
• Treatment of health care risk waste regardless of facility size or capacity
• Disposal of waste
• Disposal of general waste to land covering more than 200m²
• Disposal of any quantity of hazardous waste to land.
• Export of hazardous waste from the Republic of South Africa.

Refer to:

• National Waste Information Regulations for detailed registration and reporting requirements
• SAWIS Presentation on the registration and reporting requirements

Download the guideline Licensing of Waste Management Activities for information on Waste Information System (WIS) registration requirements. Check with the relevant provincial department and municipality to find out whether there is a provincial or municipal Waste Information System. (Refer to Provincial Departments Responsible for Environmental Affairs: contact details)