WASTE MANAGEMENT
Some people view waste as a manifestation of the inefficient
use of resources, while others view it as the root cause of
pollution and the associated environmental degradation. Whichever
way one looks at it, increased waste generation is an inevitable
consequence of development and must be systematically managed
in order to conserve resources and protect the environment
(DWAF, 1997b). An expanding economy, increased production
of goods together with an expanding population are the main
drivers for waste generation.
According to the White Paper on Integrated Pollution and
Waste Management (IP&WM), the country is emerging from
a period of unsustainable and inequitable development. One
outcome of these unsustainable and inequitable development
policies is environmental degradation, which has significant
economic and social impacts. Part of effecting a transformation
to sustainable development is to redefine the way in which
pollution and waste is managed in South Africa (DEA&T,
2000).
International concern about increasing pollution has escalated
over the past 20 years, particularly in the last decade. Many
international protocols and conventions have arisen as a result.
Many reports have also been written and conferences held as
a result of concern about global environmental degradation.
One of the most important of these conferences was the United
Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED),
which was held in Rio De Janeiro in 1992. At this conference,
178 countries agreed on Agenda 21 as a blueprint for sustainable
development. The White Paper on IP&WM is part of the South
African government's efforts to meet the goals of Agenda 21
(DEA&T, 2000).
Certain international agreements (such as the UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change, which deals with greenhouse
gases, and the Basel Convention, which addresses trans-boundary
movement of hazardous waste) impose specific requirements
on South Africa. These
requirements are also being addressed as part of the process
of formulating South Africa's policy on IP&WM (DEA&T,
2000).
The indicators that are proposed in this report aim to address
those aims and objectives of South Africa's National Waste
Management Strategy, which is a follow up document to the
White Paper on IP&WM (DEA&T and DWAF, 1999). The indicators
are grouped according to the main issues surrounding waste
management in South Africa. These issues were identified by
specialists and stakeholders during Phase 2 of this project.
They were then reviewed by officials from national and provincial
government during Phase 3 of this project. The main issues
were grouped under categories of waste generation and waste
reduction. The waste reduction category as used here is broad
and includes correct disposal and collection and expenditure
indicators.
DESCRIPTION OF ISSUES
Waste Generation
According to the 1999 State of the Environment Report for
South Africa (DEA&T, 1999), the country generates over
42 million m3 of solid waste every year. This is
about 0.7 kg per person per day, which is more typical of
developed countries than a developing country (by comparison
the figure in the UK is 0.73 kg, 0.87 kg in Singapore and
0.3 kg in Nepal). In addition, 5 million m3 of
hazardous waste are generated every year (DEA&T, 1999).
Every day 2.6 million m3 of domestic and commercial
waste water is processed at treatment works. The last figure
does not include agricultural and some industrial waste, which
are the largest sources of water (DEA&T, 1999).
South Africa's capacity to treat, store and dispose of high
volumes of waste are limited, and it is predicted that five
of the nine provinces will have landfill shortages within
the next decade (DEA&T, 1999). Further cause for concern
is the low percentage of hazardous waste that is actually
disposed of properly. It has been estimated that 5% of the
5 million m3 produced every year was disposed of
at designated sites.
Waste Reduction
In the past, the focus in South Africa has been on waste
disposal and impact controls or "end of the pipe"
treatment. Inadequacies of this focus include:
- Lack of waste avoidance, minimisation and cleaner production
technology initiatives;
- Lack of regulatory initiatives to manage waste minimisation;
- Few incentives for reducing waste;
- Industries not required to submit plans for waste disposal
when applying to establish new enterprises;
- Inadequate resource recovery and a general lack of commitment
to recycling - no legislation, policy or waste management
culture that promotes resource recovery or makes it financially
viable; and
- Lack of a variety of appropriate waste treatment methods.
Some of the consequences of these policies are continued
air and land pollution and the pollution of fresh and marine
waters, resulting in the disruption of ecosystem processes,
habitat destruction and species loss. The amount of waste
produced also places increasing pressure on the country's
landfills. Increasing amounts of land set aside for landfills
could lead to habitat destruction and species loss. Lack of
appropriate waste management strategies and treatment technologies
associated with these policies also have a negative effect
on people's health.
Appropriate measures to reduce and manage the amount of waste
that is produced need to be put in place. The approach to
integrated pollution and waste management spelled out in the
White Paper (DEA&T, 2000) requires a shift from control
to prevention. The shift to pollution prevention will:
- Minimise and/or avoid the creation of pollutants and waste;
- Minimise and/or avoid the transfer of pollutants from
one medium to another;
- Accelerate the reduction and/or the elimination of pollutants;
- Minimise health risks and impact;
- Promote the development of pollution prevention technologies;
- Use energy, materials and resources more efficiently;
- Minimise the need for costly enforcement;
- Limit future liability with greater certainty;
- Limit costly clean-up practices;
- Promote a more competitive economy;
- Reduce human impact on the environment;
- Enhance the quality of life, and
- Ensure intergenerational equity.
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