WORKING ON WASTE (WoW) DEFINED

The management of waste in South Africa falls within the mandate of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE). This mandate is derived from Section 24 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (Act 108 of 1996). Section 24 states that "everyone has the right to have the environment protected, for the benefit of present and future generations".

Waste management is a critical function within all spheres of government and the DFFE, as the custodian for environmental management has been mandated to ensure a safe and healthy environment that is not harmful to the well-being of the citizens of the country. In recognition of this constitutional obligation, the department promulgated the National Environmental Management: Waste Act 59 0f 2008 (Waste Act) and developed the National Waste Management Strategy (NWMS).

The Waste Act proactively assists government to obey the Constitutional assignment of legislative and executive powers between the three spheres of government, and the NWMS assists to achieve the goals and objectives of the waste act. Waste management has been at the centre of deliberations in most environmental policy discussions dating back to the Polokwane Declaration on Waste Management of 2001.

There is pressure on government to implement immediate action to ensure that waste is better managed. The introduction of an international best practice in waste management, the waste hierarchy (figure 1 below) is one of the best mechanisms that came into effect with the promulgation of the Waste Act. Enshrined in the Waste Act is the duty to care and implement the waste hierarchy while protecting the environment.

Figure 1: The waste hierarchy (Source: DEA, 2020)

Working on Waste is one of the initiatives by the DFFE implemented through EP under the auspices of Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). The initiative is a proactive preventative measure that recognises that inadequate waste services may lead to litter, which is not only a visual pollution but may lead to health hazards and environmental degradation. Ineffective waste management practices can affect the well-being of the communities, and this can be further exacerbated by the increased use of illegal dumping and littering. The programme seeks to ensure that both social and ecological sustainability are achieved through implementation of sustainable waste management practices.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

Working on Waste focus area is intended to reduce the adverse effects of waste on human health, the environment, planetary resources, and aesthetics. The strategic objectives of this focus area to:

• Promote the implementation of the waste hierarchy (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover and Disposal as a last resort) while protecting the environment.
• Create and support mechanisms and for the protection of environmental quality;
• Create sustainable livelihoods through recycling of waste;
• Reduce and divert the quantity of solid waste disposed of at the landfill sites;
• Encourage separation of waste from the source;
• Support the use of environmentally friendly waste disposal technology; and

• Promote environmental education and awareness to the communities especially as they are the main waste generators.

CATEGORIES OF PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED

There are two categories of projects that are funded and implemented under Working on Waste focus area, namely infrastructure and non-infrastructure project types.

a. INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT TYPES

• Development, upgrading and rehabilitation of waste disposal facilities (landfill sites)
  
  

This category covers both the rehabilitation of existing waste disposal facilities and the development of new ones for general waste. Depending on the volume of waste disposal facility airspace remaining, the rehabilitation could be required for closure or ensuring compliance to license conditions for continuous operation of the waste disposal facility. This form of intervention seeks to contribute towards the reduction of unlicensed landfill sites.

The construction of the landfill sites is done according to the minimum requirements for waste disposal, which makes provision for the use of latest applications for landfill technology. The minimum requirements further regulate the quantification of general waste, enforcing weighbridges at landfill sites depending on the classification of the landfill site. In cases where weighbridges are not available (e.g. communal waste disposal sites), alternative methods must be used to give general estimates of waste volumes as required.

• Establishment of buy-back centres and recycling facilities
  
  

Buy-back centres (BBCs) and recycling facilities play an increasingly important role in an integrated waste management system. The volume of waste collection may be reduced if recycling of recyclables such as card boxes, plastics, paper and other recyclables can be separated at source. The department works together with the municipalities to promote reduction, recycling and re-use of waste. This category of projects contributes to the reduction of waste that goes to the landfill sites, and therefore, extending the lifespan of the landfill site. The most important aspect is that it provides an opportunity to create small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) for waste recycling and can create a myriad of job opportunities in the value chain.

• Establishment of the waste transfer stations and drop-of centres
  
  

The waste transfer stations and drop-off centres are the temporary facilities meant for keeping waste before it gets transferred to the processing facilities or disposal facility. The facility receives waste from collection vehicles and waste is dumped into static compactors, then re-compacted into compaction containers or floor trailers. By nature, it is a small facility, and the construction of the facility also involves labour-intensive methods but does not have major infrastructure.

• Construction of material recovery facilities
  
  

Material recovery facility (MRF) is a place where solid waste is delivered to be separated, processed and stored for later use as raw materials, for remanufacturing and re-processing. 

It is then further sorted, bulked (compacted) into preferable load sizes suitable for transport, made ready for collection and transportation, sold, stored, and shipped to the buyers including some of the original manufacturers. The MRF is made up of a series of conveyor belts and a mix of manual and automatic procedures to separate the materials and remove the items that are not needed. This is a high-tech facility operating on a high-volume capacity and it provides services at a regional scale.

• Construction of composting facilities
  
  

Composting Facilities are facilities where organic municipal solid waste is collected and stored in a controlled setting. This category of project focuses on recycling of organic waste where the organic component of solid waste is decomposed under controlled conditions. Organic waste can range from fruits, vegetables, alien vegetation and any other bio-degradable materials, which once processed into compost is packaged and sold in bulk. The compost produced can be sold to farms and plant nurseries or to individuals depending on how the facility is organised.

b. NON-INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT TYPES

• Street cleaning and beautification
  
  

Street clean-up programs and projects can vary but generally include a regularly scheduled day that the community gathers to clean up debris, weeds, and overgrown landscaping. This focuses on daily cleaning of streets and public open spaces. In this category plants can be used for beautification and greening and help bring a sense of pride and ownership to a neighbourhood. Cleaning streets and planting trees can contribute to a greener and more attractive neighbourhood. Also encourage walking, create safe streets, and improve neighbourhood appearance.

• Illegal dumps clearing and greening
  
  

Illegal dumping is the disposal of unwanted materials in inappropriate places. Be it household rubbish, building waste or industrial debris, improper disposal has disastrous effects on the environment, economy and community. A wide range of materials can be recycled at least to some degree, and recycling can even yield potential financial benefits. This category focuses on removing and clearing illegal dumps thereby creating safety and public friendly environment. 

• Domestic waste collection
  
  

Domestic waste is waste that is generated due to the ordinary day-to-day use of a domestic premise and is either taken from the premises by or on behalf of the occupier who generated the waste, without consideration (e.g., payment, reward or other benefit). This category focuses of collection of domestic waste from where it is kept to the buy-back centres and recycling facilities for purpose of recycling. If the waste cannot be recycled, it is then taken to the licensed waste disposal facilities. 

• Integrated waste management plans (IWMPs)
  
  

Integrated waste management planning is a basic requirement of all waste management activities in terms of the National Environmental Management: Waste Act. Integrated waste management plan is described as an efficient and cost-effective way to reduce open dumping, effectively manage solid waste, and protect human health and the environment. By implementing a comprehensive integrated waste management strategy, municipalities can minimise their environmental impacts while also reaping significant financial rewards.