This is an area where everyone can make a contribution to living lightly on
the planet. Reducing the
amount of waste we produce means that less ends up in already overflowing landfills; it
reduces the need for new raw materials, and so to helps to preserve the environment from
destructive processes such as mining, power generation and water exploitation. Less waste
means less pollution, and reducing
waste can save money! This can be done by reducing, reusing and recycling
(Enviro Facts, 1999e).
REDUCE
This is the most important step - if we do it
well there will be less to re-use and recycle.
- Shop carefully: Buy in bulk to reduce the amount of
packaging required; choose returnable or reusable containers.
- Avoid over-packaged products and unnecessarily packaged
food, e.g. cling-wrapped vegetables on polystyrene trays.
- Choose durable articles that will last along time.
- Buy products with a recycled content.
- Use rechargeable batteries where possible, cloth dishtowels
and napkins instead of paper ones, and refillable ink pens. Avoid disposable plates, cups
and cutlery.
- Store food in a fridge in re-usable, airtight containers,
rather than plastic cling film, tinfoil of plastic bags.
- Take your own basket to the supermarket to avoid using new
plastic shopping bags each time.
- In the office and school photocopy on both sides (Enviro
Facts, 1999e).
RE-USE
Where possible, re-use a product several times. If you
can't use it again, find someone who can.
- Glass and plastic bottles with deposits can be returned to
shops for re-use. Likewise milk bottles are re-used by distributers.
- Wash and dry plastic bags for re-use.
- Staple together office paper that has only been written on
one side, for scrap paper.
- Nursery schools make good use of the inside core of toilet
rolls and paper towels, egg boxes, cereal boxes and jam jars.
- Charities welcome unwanted clothes, furniture, toys, books
and magazines.
- Repair things rather than throw them away (Enviro Facts,
1999e).
RECYCLE
If a product cannot be re-used, then recycle it. The
first step is to seperate
your waste at home into organic waste, plastic, glass, tin cans and paper- all of
which can be recycled into suitable forms for re-use.
- To find out what recycling programmes operate in your area, contact either the local branch
of Keep South Africa Beautiful, your City Cleansing Branch or the Wildlife Society.
- Glass is 100% recyclable - make use of bottle banks.
- A compost heap is a must. Kitchen and garden waste can be
added to the compost heap, or used to feed pets or garden birds.
- There are many recycling programmes operating nationwide,
which can also provide jobs to
people.
- Used motor oil can be handed in for recycling at your local
garage.
STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS OF
NON-HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT IN GREATER JOHANNESBURG (Walmsley, 1997).
STRENGTHS |
WEAKNESSES |
- Disposal of non-hazardous waste in landfill sites is the
most convenient method of waste disposal
- GJ has land available for the development of future landfill
sites
- The climate of GJ ensures that landfill sites are not
permanently saturated with rain water
- The geology of GJ ensures that landfill sites can be
constructed in areas where the water table is sufficiently low
|
- It is difficult to locate landfill sites close to waste
sources
- Illegal dumping if rife in many parts of GJ
- Formal collection is absent in many areas
- Transport distances result in high costs of waste removal
- Insufficient recycling programmes and drop off points
- Minimum requirements for landfill limit the scope in the
location of landfill sites
- Poor management of landfill sites has resulted in wind blown
litter and odours
- Landfill sites result in ground water pollution (due to
leachate) and surface water pollution (due to surface run-off)
- Many of GJ's landfill sites are over utilised
- Landfill sites have a negative impact on visibility
- Impacts on health include odours, water pollution related
diseases and pests such as flies and rats
- The non-payment of ratesand taxes makes it difficult to
supply services to certain areas
|
OPPORTUNITIES |
THREATS |
- Sustainable recycling programmes will help to reduce the
amount of waste required to be disposed of by landfill
- Practical and creative reuse of landfill sites after
rehabilitation and closure eg parks, recreation
- Well planned densification of the city will make waste
management more efficient
|
- Rapid population increases will result in the breakdown in
success of current waste management practices and place pressure on existing non-hazardous
waste disposal sites
- Unplanned densification within the existing metropolitan
boundaries will also place pressure on existing waste management
- Decreasing waste management budgets and increasing costs
will decrease the efficiency of waste management practices
- "Not in my back yard" attitudes will make it
increasingly more difficult to develop waste disposal sites
- The continued non-payment of rates and taxes will exacerbate
existing service provision
- Urban sprawl will increase the cost of collectin waste and
will place pressure on the capacity and management of existing disposal sites
|
Although not much information is available on
hazardous waste management, Walmsley Environmental Consultants (1997) did the following
summmary on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of hazardous
waste management in Greater Johannesburg.
STRENGTHS |
WEAKNESSES |
- Legal dumping of hazardous waste is strictly legislated and
standardised
- GJ has land available for the development of hazardous
landfill sites
|
- Illegal dumping and uncontrolled generation of hazardous
waste is rife
- "One man backyard operations"are common, and tend
to evade strict regulations
- One hazardous waste dump that serves the entire Gauteng
province is not sufficient to cater for the amount of hazardous waste generated in the
region
- Hazardous waste can be flammable, corrosive, radioactive or
chemically unstable, making it a safety hazard especially during transportation
- The cost of incineration, the preferred method of hazardous
waste disposal, is to high to warrant it feasible for the disposal of most hazardous waste
- Impacts on health are serious, as hazardous waste has been
known to cause cancer and infections. More hazardous waste are also poisonous and there is
a danger of them accumulating in the food chain
|
| OPPORTUNITIES |
THREATS |
- The development of additional hazardous waste facilities may
help to control illegal dumping
- Government incentives to dump legally may help to provide
motivation for action
- Stricter management and regulation of dumping avtivities
|
- "Not in my back yard" attitudes have made, and
will continue to make it increasingly more difficult to develop future hazardous waste
disposal sites
- Increasing costs of disposal will decrease the efficiency of
hazardous waste management practices
|
EXISTING LEGISLATION: SOLID WASTE
- The Environment Conservation Act 73 of 1989 (S20) principally
administers solid waste. In administering the Act, the Minister of Water Affairs has to
maintain a register in which all waste disposal sites are recorded for which permits have
been issued. The problem is that not all disposal sites are duly permitted.
- The Advertising of Roads and Ribbon Development Act 21 of 1940
prohibits the deposition of waste near specified roads.
- The National Building Regulations And Building Standards Act 103 of
1977 empowers local authorities to prohibit the erection of a building on an area covered
with refuse
- The Rural Areas Act 9 of 87 allows the Minister of Housing to plan
for a town commonage to make provision for the dumping of soil.
- The Minerals Act 50 of 1991 governs solid waste generated by the
mining sector
- The Local Government Transition Act 209 of 1993: prescribes the
powers and duties of Metropolitan Councils in relation to issues like waste disposal
facilities.
REFERENCES
Enviro Facts 1999e: War on Waste.
http://www.botany.uwc.ac.za/EnvFacts/facts/waste.htm
Fuggle, R.F. & M.A. Rabie 1992: Environmental
Management in South Africa. Juta: Cape Town.
Walmsley Environmental Consultants 1997: GJTMC
Integrated Metropolitan Development Plan - Report No. W262. WEC: Rivonia. |
