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SOUTH AFRICAN MUNICIPAL WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS: CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS

Authors:

Abstract

South Africa Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF), the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC) have partnered to enhanced municipal solid waste management. During this collaboration, local municipalities’ challenges and systems failures were identified, and potential solutions investigated to inform the implementation of interventions by UNEP in country office. This report provides a summary of the findings.
South African Municipal
Waste Management Systems:
Challenges and Solutions
South African Municipal Waste Management Systems: Challenges and Solutions
ii
Publication date: May 2020
Cover image: Goudkoppies landfill, Johannesburg. Credit: Suzan Oelofse, CSIR
Authors
Tumisang Polasi (Researcher, CSIR),
Sihle Matinise (Researcher, CSIR),
Suzan Oelofse, (Principal Researcher, CSIR)
Supervision and Project Management
Keith Alverson (Director, UN Environment Programme-IETC)
Cecilia Kinuthia-Njenga (Head, UN Environment Programme South Africa Office)
Misato Dilley (Associate Expert, UN Environment Programme-IETC)
Robin Argueyrolles (Climate Mitigation project Consultant, UN Environment Programme-
IETC)
Disclaimer
The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not
imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the United Nations
Environment Programme concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or
of its authorities, or concerning delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Moreover, the
views expressed do not necessarily represent the decision or the stated policy of the United
Nations Environment Programme, nor does citing of trade names or commercial processes
constitute endorsement. Mention of a commercial company or product in this publication
does not imply endorsement by the United Nations Environment Programme.
The International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC) works with developing countries
to implement sustainable solutions to environmental challenges, with focus on holistic waste
management.
South African Municipal Waste Management Systems: Challenges and Solutions
iii
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
CA
Competent Authority
COJ
City of Johannesburg
CSIR
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
COVID-19
The COVID-19 is a new virus identified in 2019 and linked to the same
family of viruses as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
DARDLEA
Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental
Affairs, Mpumalanga
DEA
Department of Environmental Affairs (now DEFF)
DEFF
Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries
GIZ
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit
IDP
Integrated Development Plan
IWMP
Integrated Waste Management Plan
KSDLM
King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality
NEMA
National Environmental Management Act
NWMS
National Waste Management Strategy
RSA
Republic of South Africa
Stats SA
Statistics South Africa
UNEP
United Nations Environment Programme
South African Municipal Waste Management Systems: Challenges and Solutions
iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Background........................................................................................................... 5
2 Municipality solid waste management challenges .......................................... 6
2.1 Financial challenges .......................................................................................................... 6
2.2 Operational challenges .................................................................................................... 7
2.3 Legislation ............................................................................................................................ 9
2.4 Planning and management .......................................................................................... 10
2.5 COVID -19 .......................................................................................................................... 10
3 Municipality submissions .................................................................................. 11
4 Possible solutions............................................................................................... 12
4.1 Financial challenges solutions ..................................................................................... 12
4.2 Operational challenges solutions .............................................................................. 13
4.3 Legislation solutions ....................................................................................................... 14
4.4 Planning and management solutions ...................................................................... 15
4.5 COVID-19 responses ...................................................................................................... 15
5 Summary of challenges and solutions ............................................................. 16
5.1 Operational challenges .................................................................................................. 16
5.2 Legislation .......................................................................................................................... 17
5.3 Planning and management .......................................................................................... 17
5.4 COVID-19 ............................................................................................................................ 18
6 Conclusion and recommendations .................................................................. 18
7 References ........................................................................................................... 19
... This is because reactive policies are based on inspecting practices and commanding actions, while proactive ones focus on building awareness to ensure compliance. However, there is a debate that in SSA, policies have been mostly reactive (Polasi et al., 2020;CSE, 2017;Somaroo & Gukhool, 2015). Thus, the need to explore the discourse on solid waste management regulation. ...
... Offenders of illegal waste dumping are not harshly punished because the fees in most countries, if in existence are too low (Yukalang et al., 2017;Katusiimeh et al., 2012). For example, in South Africa spot fines that are charged for illegal dumping are not constraining enough because the culprits find it a cheaper option (Polasi et al., 2020). Impliedly, illegal waste management practices have not been adequately criminalised to discourage offenders. ...
... However, periodic data in solid waste management is lacking, or sometimes the methodologies used are not consistent, or not documented in most developing regions including SSA (UNEP & ISWA, 2016; Kawai & Tasaki, 2016;Oyake-Ombis et al., 2015;. Without data, developing policies or planning for the local context is futile amidst evolutions in rapid urbanisation, population growth, and types of waste. 1 For instance, it is noted that in South Africa, reliable data is un-available which impedes development of approaches that can inform decisions in waste management but also frustrates efforts to develop appropriate and relevant initiatives (Oluwatobi et al., 2021;Polasi et al., 2020). In her quest to secure an ISWM grant, Ethiopia implemented the project within the pre-conditioned three months period without reliable data on waste generation, which was a blunder (Bjerkli, 2015). ...
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Solid waste management remains a challenge globally attributed to several factors including inadequacies and ineffectiveness of policies. Presumably, good policies should translate to better solid waste management practices. However, other underlying factors and implementation challenges may determine the waste management status. Thus the debate in the literature on solid waste management policy and practice remains inconclusive. Based on literature review, this paper examines the discourse on solid waste management regulation and status in Sub-Saharan Africa. A paradox of policy outcomes is revealed at global and national level. Global policies have not been holistically contextualised and integrated in national policies. While national policies have not improved the solid waste management status of some countries, in others, it has, albeit unsustainably. Notably, inherent weaknesses such as insufficiency, homogeneity and ambiguity of policies affects implementation. This is exacerbated by poor enforcement strategies, lack of participatory mechanisms, inadequate sensitisation, influence of power and politics, as well as weak political commitment, among others. To ensure smart and clean cities, it is crucial for initiatives of solid waste management not only to be legally supported, but also contextualised and co-generated. For effective policy implementation, there is need for sensitisation of urban dwellers to enable comprehension of policies. Participatory strategies and governments’ commitment towards solid waste management should be paramount. Due to rapid changes in urban areas, periodic studies on content and context inferences such as solid waste collection practices and participation of actors in the informal settlements are required to dispel the practice of homogenising policies in order to enhance relevancy and suitability.
... Effective waste management is a critical challenge many countries face worldwide, and South Africa is no exception. With a population exceeding 60 million, South Africa generates significant waste annually, necessitating robust and efficient waste management systems [1]. Unfortunately, traditional waste segregation methods are predominantly manual, leading to inefficiencies, increased labour costs, and higher error rates [2]. ...
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... The country has an estimated generation of 1.48 kg/capita/day of solid waste, which is higher than the Sub-Saharan average and at similar levels to some countries in Europe and Central Asia (Kaza et al. 2018). One of the primary challenges in South Africa is reducing the waste disposed in landfills (Department of Environment Forestry and Fisheries 2020), which is hindered by littering, illegal dumping, lack of regular collection services, incomplete coverage, and historical spatial and service delivery inequalities (Polasi 2018;Polasi et al. 2020). ...
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... ,Mazzantini and Zoboli (2008),Hoornweg et al. (2013),Nkosi (2014), DEA (2018),Polasi et al. (2020) concluded that there is a positive relationship between population and waste. Albeit a little,Begum et al. (2015) show that the population growth rate does not have a significant effect on the waste produced per capita. ...
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The Savannah River Plant will begin operation of several new waste disposal and treatment facilities during the next five year which will affect all waste streams generated on site. These will include a new solid low-level radioactive waste disposal facility, a hazardous/mixed waste disposal facility, and a low-level liquid waste solidification process. Existing waste sites will be closed in a technically and environmentally sound manner. Facility designs and closure plans are based on site-specific performance assessments and data from comprehensive monitoring systems. In addition, significant technical effort is directed toward waste volume reduction. These programs include compaction, incineration, waste avoidance, and clean waste segregation. These are elements of an integrated waste management plan that was developed to insure not only an effective, coordinated transition to these new facilities but to significantly enhance the overall site environmental management program. 3 refs.
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