Limpopo Environmental Outlook Report 2016 1 st DRAFT Chapter 7: Waste Management for the Limpopo Province, South Africa This document is an ongoing outcome of a consultative process that underpins the Limpopo Environmental Outlook (LEO) Report 2016. It can be quoted only with the explicit and written permission of LEDET. It has been reviewed by specialists in the field, as well as members of the provincial Steering Committee for the LEO Project. All LEO Reports are distributed as widely as possible, for inputs and comments. This document was prepared by EcoAfrica under the aegis of the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET), in order for stakeholders to engage with the environmental assessment and reporting process. Its date of release is the 9 th December, 2015. 1
Table of Contents Acronyms... 3 1. Introduction... 4 2. Drivers, Pressures and State... 6 3. Impacts and Trends... 7 4. Responses... 7 5. Conclusions and Recommendations... 7 References... 8 List of Figures Figure 1: Authorised and unauthorised waste facilities in Limpopo...5 List of Tables Table 1: Status of IWMPs in Local Municipalities...4 Table 2: Number of Waste Sites and Waste Storage Facilities in Limpopo Province...6 Table 3: Waste Management Indicators Considered...7 2
Acronyms IWMP LEDET LM PGL Integrated Waste Management Plan Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism of the Limpopo Province Local Municipality Provincial Government of Limpopo 3
1. Introduction Waste management has been identified by stakeholders as a key issue in the Limpopo Province. The collection and disposal of solid waste within rural areas is of particular concern. The National Environmental Management: Waste Act (Act 59 of 2008) and is subsequent amendments, provides the legislative framework for waste management in South Africa. This Act obliges provincial, district and local authorities to compile, adopt and implement Integrated Waste Management Plans (IWMPs). The Limpopo Integrated Waste Management Plan 2012 1 has been adopted, with 2 of the 5 district municipalities and 23 of the 25 local municipalities in various stages of compiling IWMPs, as detailed in Table 1. Table 1: Status of IWMPs in Local Municipalities # District Municipality # Local Municipality (LM) Status 1. Vhembe District Not available 1. Mutale LM Draft stage 2. Musina LM In process of development 3. Makhado LM Draft stage 4. Thulamela LM Draft stage 2. Waterberg District Completed and to be submitted to LEDET 5. Mogalakwena LM Completed and to be submitted to LEDET 6. Mookgophong LM Draft stage 7. Modimolle LM Draft stage 8. Belabela LM Draft stage 9. Lephalale LM Draft stage 10. Thabazimbi LM Draft stage 3. Mopani District Not available 11. Ba-Phalaborwa LM Submitted to LEDET for comment 12. Greater Giyani LM Draft stage 13. Greater Letaba LM Completed and to be submitted to LEDET 14. Greater Tzaneen LM Not available 15. Maruleng LM Submitted to LEDET for comment 4. Capricorn District Not available 16. Aganang LM Not available 17. Blouberg LM Draft stage 18. Molemole LM Draft stage 19. Lepelle-Nkumpi Draft stage 20. Polokwane LM Completed and to be submitted to LEDET 5. Sekhukhune District Final stage of completion 21. Fetakgomo LM Draft stage 22. Greater Tubatse LM Final draft 23. Elias Motsoaledi LM Draft stage 24. Ephraim Mogale LM Draft stage 1 The Draft Limpopo IWMP 2012 has been made available and information therein has been used as a source for this chapter. The final Limpopo IWMP currently remains outstanding and the information will be included into the 2 nd Draft LEO Report, once received. 4
Solid waste is divided into general waste from largely the domestic waste stream, construction waste like builders rubble, commercial waste that would include some industrial waste, hazardous waste which would also include industrial waste and health-care risk waste. Environmental health issues related to contact between people and waste is identified globally as a threat to human wellbeing. With additional pressure from a growing population, there are now more authorised waste disposal sites in place than in 2006. Since 2006 the number of authorised general waste landfill sites in Limpopo has almost doubled from 43 to 84 waste sites and waste storage facilities in 2015, with 76% currently licensed, as previously compared to 23%. Yet with increasing population growth, additional pressure is placed on the natural resources by waste management. Figure 2: Authorised and unauthorised waste facilities in Limpopo The effective management of waste is critical to avoiding environmental health issues and the protection of especially rivers and wetlands within the Limpopo Province. It is clear that waste management can certainly be strengthened with current problems experienced in the collection of waste and monitoring of the performance of waste disposal sites. Effective work is being done by Local Municipalities in managing solid waste and monitoring such through participation in the Green Municipalities Competition. There are certainly difficulties in dealing with waste management in Limpopo, yet the proper functioning and monitoring of solid waste disposal sites, and improved waste collection and recycling efforts, can provide significant improvement. There are no hazardous waste disposal sites in the Limpopo Province and LEDET is currently not monitoring hazardous waste generation or disposal. 13% of landfill sites now remain unauthorised with an additional 5% of the sites across the Province under application. Waste collection in rural areas is an issue that requires priority attention. Although monitoring 5
of waste sites for compliance is conducted by the provincial authority, technical capacity and the lack of adequate financial resources limit the effective operation and monitoring of the performance of waste sites at the local level. 2. Drivers, Pressures and State The primary drivers in the generation of waste are population growth and market-driven economic growth. Other factors to consider are various economic activities like mining and agriculture, which contribute more to water pollution than other sectors. The effectiveness of waste management at the local level to meeting the demand for waste collection and disposal, generated by increased economic affluence. There are currently 84 waste facilities in the Limpopo Province, as detailed in Table 2. More general waste sites have been authorised. Waste received is being measured at some sites, yet these measurements are not accurate 2. There is certainly a growth in the volume of waste being handled in the Province, which was estimated at 2,443,84 tonnes (PGL, 2012). There are 140 recycling facilities active across Limpopo (LEDET 2015), yet the amount of waste being recycled is not accurately recorded. Table 2 details the types of waste sites and waste storage facilities currently on record in the Limpopo Province, as compared to the SoER in 2006. Table 3: Number of Waste Sites and Waste Storage Facilities in Limpopo Province 3 Details 2006 2015 Waste Sites 43 77 Waste Storage Facilities - 7 Authorised Municipal Landfill Sites 10 44 Authorised Private Landfill Sites - 13 Unauthorised Municipal Dumping Sites 24 12 Unauthorised Private Dumping Sites - 1 Municipal Landfill Sites under Application - 4 Private Waste Storage Facilities - 1 2 Pers. Comm. Mr Tshepo Maselela, 10 September 2015. 3 LEDET will verify the waste facilities information provided in October 2015. 6
3. Impacts and Trends The impacts and trends have been considered through making use of waste management indicators, as detailed in Table 3. Table 4: Waste Management Indicators Considered No. Indicators Considered Description and Comment 1. Number of hazardous waste sites and facilities There are no hazardous waste sites in Limpopo and the risk that such waste being disposed of illegally or to general waste sites exists. 2. Number of general waste sites The number of general waste sites across Limpopo has increased. 3. % of licensed municipal landfill sites The % of authorised municipal general waste sites has increased. 4. Amount of waste to landfill per annum Currently estimated at 2,443,858 t/a. No baseline is available for 2006. 5. Amount of waste recycled per annum No definitive information available, yet 140 recycling facilities noted across Limpopo. Waste management remains as key issue in Limpopo, with significant progress made in terms of the number of authorised waste facilities across the province. Progress is also being made in the compilation of LWMP across the province. Both these indicators show strengthening trends. Waste collection, especially in rural areas remains a problem and poses significant environmental health and pollution risks. Technical capacity for the planning, operation and monitoring of landfill and dumping sites however remains weak, as emerged from discussions in the stakeholder and public meetings. 4. Responses The Limpopo Integrated Waste Management Plan 2012 is in place and it has been suggested that this document be reviewed in order to keep abreast with waste management concerns in Limpopo. The IWMPs at district and local level also need to be finalised in order that waste management can be planned into and feature more significantly in local municipal planning and budgeting. 5. Conclusions and Recommendations Waste management remains a key concern across the province and requires more active responses from government, the private sector and civil society at large. It is further recommended that: 1. Local municipality IWMPs be finalised as a matter of top priority. 2. Hazardous waste generation and disposal be effectively monitored and planned for across the province. 3. The performance of general waste sites be effectively monitored at the local level. 4. Continued and improved support be provided by LEDET to waste site operators. 7
References Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF), 1998. Waste Management Series. Minimum Requirements for the Handling, Classification and Disposal of Hazardous Waste. Pretoria. Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF), 2001. Disposal Sites for Hazardous and General Waste in South Africa (Baseline study in preparation for the National Waste Management Strategy for South Africa). Water Quality Management Series. Pretoria. Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET), 2012. Integrated Waste Management Plan for the Limpopo Province. Prepared by Redlex Projects, Midrand. South African National Standard (SANS 10248-8), 2008. Management of Healthcare Waste, Part 1: Management of Healthcare Risk Waste from a Healthcare Facility. South African Bureau of Standards, Pretoria. 8