“The Provincial Perspective”

Presentation at the Johannesburg Waste Summit by

Zingisa Smale

24 - 25 March 2015

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Contents

• Gauteng in relation to other South African Provinces

• Gauteng: Context for waste management

• Policy and Legislation considerations

• Waste Management Statistics

• Gauteng General Waste Composition

• Waste Information Statistics for Jan 2013 – Dec 2013

• Challenges, solutions and opportunities

Gauteng in relation to other SA Provinces

Gauteng : Context • Geographically, Gauteng is smallest of South Africa’s (SA) 9 provinces• Is the most populous province , with estimated 12.9 million people - 23.9% of

estimated 54 million population (Stat SA, 2014)• Is the economic and industrial hub of South Africa with 36% contribution to SA gross

domestic product (GDP) and 10 % contribution to Africa’s GDP (GPG SOPA, 2015) • International research has linked increase in wealth with increased waste generation

(Matsunaga and Nickolas (2002), Shaw (1989)• Gauteng in 2011 contributed an estimated 45% to the total municipal waste generated

in SA (DEA, 2012)• In 2013, 6.4 million tons (40.9%) of general waste was landfilled and 5.5 million tons

(34.9% ) was recycled from a total of 15.7million tons reported (GWIS, 2014). • Waste generation is indicative of, and results in resource and energy wastage; may

result in air, soil and water pollution , as well as land sterilization• Gauteng experiences competing land-uses and there is a need for job creation in the

waste sector • There is a need to ensure the avoidance of waste generation and landfilling through

efficient resource usage , reuse and recycling should be prioritised

Policy and Legislation considerations • The South African waste management policy supports a waste management approach

which avoids waste generation, promotes : cleaner production , waste minimisation, re-use, recycling recovery and waste treatment with disposal seen as a last resort

• There was in July 2009 an important milestone in the enactment of National Environmental Management: Waste Act, Act 59 of 2008 (“Waste Act”)

• Provinces were enabled by the Waste Act Regulations to review Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and issue licenses for “listed activities” i.e. activities that “have, or are likely to have a detrimental effect on the environment including recycling of waste”

• The listed activities were revised in 29 Nov 2013 to facilitate recycling

• Norms and Standards were passed for, inter alia, storage of waste and for the scrapping of vehicles to facilitate recycling

Gauteng General Waste Composition (GDARD, 2010)

40%

15%

20%

25%

% Contribution per Waste Type

Non-recyclables Organics Builders Rubble Mainline recyclables (PPGTT)

Waste Stats for Jan 2013 – Dec 2013 (GWIS, 2014)

Total waste reported 15.7 Million tons

Waste Landfilled Waste Recycled Waste Treated

40.9%

34.9%

0.33%2.5% 0.32 %

21.0%

General Waste (tons) Hazardous waste (tons)

Some challenges, solutions and opportunities Challenges Solutions and Opportunities Waste separation at source is not mainstreamed - leading to contamination and reduced recyclable volumes

• Provision of a recyclable waste bag by all Gauteng municipalities as a minimum

• Opportunity for SMME / Waste Pickers to be formalised to collect recycled waste away from landfills

65% of general waste not recycled in 2013 • Resource efficiency opportunity for organisations

Illegal dumping of building and Demolition waste

• All municipalities need to publicise where builders rubble is accepted

• Research opportunity for materials scientists, innovation opportunity for the building industry

• An opportunity for government to create a recyclable goods market by setting targets for buying SA recycled goods

Waste Service Provider contacts mainly based on collected and landfilled waste

• New contracts must, by design, reward waste separation, re-use and recycling rather than reward disposal

Litter and illegal Dumping • Awareness raising that littering is a crime• Increase recycling ,• By-law enforcement

Source separation as a key to increased recycling

Increased Employment

Increased Recycling

Jobcreation

Source Separation

References DEA (Department of Environmental Affairs) (2012). National Waste Information Baseline Report. Department of Environmental Affairs. Pretoria, South Africa.

GDARD (Gauteng Department of Agriculture) (2010). Gauteng General Waste Minimisation Plan. Johannesburg, South Africa.

GWIS (Gauteng Waste Information System). Available at www.gwis.gpg.gov.za.

GPG (Gauteng Provincial Government) (2015). State of the Province Address by Gauteng Premier David Makhura on 23rd February 2015. Johannesburg. South Africa.

Matsunaga, K. and Themelis N.J.(2002). Effects of affluence and population density on waste generation and disposal of municipal solid wastes, Columbia University, New York, USA.

Shaw R. P. (1989) Rapid Population Growth and Environmental Degradation: Ultimate versus Proximate Factors. Environmental Conservation,16: 199-208

Stats SA 2014 – Statistics South Africa Mid year population estimates 2014. Available at www.statssa.gov.za accessed on 22 March 2015.

Thank You