Waste Management in 2024: South Africa’s Challenges, Goals, and the Road to a Circular Economy
Population growth, unfunded waste services, landfill airspace depletion, inadequate waste diversion and outdated infrastructure. These are but a few of the major challenges that the South African waste industry grapples with in 2024.
But Mpendulo Ginindza, President of the Institute of Waste Management of South Africa (IWMSA), says not all is lost and that many positive strides are being made towards achieving a circular economy by 2030.
She adds that one of the biggest steps creating an enabling environment for change was the 2008 implementation of the NEM Waste Act.
“The Act's focus was the waste management hierarchy, which encourages reducing waste to landfill,” she explains. “We have seen a flood of regulations in response to this. Needless to say, our legislation is amongst the best in the world. However, implementing and enforcing this legislation is our challenge.”
The Challenges: Waste Minimisation and Public Awareness
The issue of diminishing landfill airspace is one that South Africa continues to face - especially in major metros.
Ginindza says Cape Town, eThekwini, and Ekurhuleni are already experiencing increases in the cost of moving waste as their landfills reach capacity. She adds that locally, the focus still falls too much on waste management with not enough attention given to actual waste minimisation.
“In most cases the waste collection and disposal company provides that service, but yet it is not their core business,” Ginindza explains, adding that households are generally not ‘separating at source’, with waste pickers doing only some of that work.
“Education and awareness also need to be driven in schools. This situation requires everyone’s involvement - from households to business.”
Another area that the IWMSA believes can be improved is partnerships and collaborations.
“South Africa must emphasise the need to develop capacity, not only locally, but also in the region. We miss out on funding opportunities, not because there is no need to fund projects, but because there is no capacity or capability.”
The Successes: EPR Regulations and e-Waste Diversion
Ginindza says partnerships between government and private sector are yielding results - such as Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) implementing and expanding programs for waste diversion.
“Part of their role is to work with municipalities to build infrastructure for managing waste,” she adds. “Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations have also been implemented and producers are now responsible for the entire lifecycle of their products which includes their waste management. “And although EPR does not solve all the country’s waste management problems, it is a crucial tool.
“In South Africa, EPR focuses on waste picker integration and circular economy. We should therefore acknowledge the role that waste pickers have played in waste diversion.” A lot of effort was also made to make people aware of the dangers of e-waste.
“It is now restricted from being disposed of to landfill, with a Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) policy under development. It will provide guidance and help to drive proper disposal and recycling.”
In conclusion, Ginindza says small businesses that want to make sure they comply, can reach out to the IWMSA. “We provide support through our training programmes and engaging different stakeholders through seminars and conferences. By supporting the waste sector, we can ensure proper waste management and maintain a clean environment.”
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