South Africa – Pilot project to improve household waste management
Hazardous household waste has a negative effect on soil, water, and human health in South Africa. The Swedish EPA supports the country in various projects, for example by forming a national strategy for waste management.
The cooperation between the Swedish EPA and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, DFFE, is aimed at developing solutions for sound waste management.
In 2015, a delegation from the Swedish Ministry of the Environment and a number of government authorities and organisations visited South Africa. At the Sweden-South Africa Binational Commission meeting in Stockholm, a declaration of intent was signed between the countries to cooperate on environmental protection and climate.
Focus on hazardous household waste
Several study visits and workshops resulted in a project proposition regarding waste management, with one particular municipality as a pilot project; Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality in the Eastern Cape province, where East London is the largest city.
So-called waste sorting analysis is an effective method for investigating different types of recycling based on the composition of the waste. In the spring of 2018, a waste sorting analysis of waste collected from three residential areas of different income levels was carried out by specially trained personnel at the Roundhill landfill in Berlin. The sorting was made in 27 fractions and then weighed. The result showed that the major part of the hazardous waste originated from the high-income residential area.
To conclude the activities in Buffalo City, the DFFE launched a nationwide investment in waste and chemicals management. President Cyril Ramaphosa presented the launch together with the Minister of the Environment and the Director General of the Ministry of the Environment. They all particularly highlighted the project on hazardous household waste driven by the Swedish EPA, DFFE, and Buffalo City.
A special training in handling hazardous waste was held for drivers and staff in East London, Buffalo City, in 2019. During the pandemic, there were several meetings aimed to establish the pilot project and prepare for the launch. The project was also presented at the Waste Con waste management conference in Pretoria in October 2022.
Request for national strategy
Parallel to the project, the Ministry of the Environment has asked the Swedish EPA to conduct a national strategy for the households’ hazardous waste. It has now been finalized and includes documentation of background, along with plans for information and implementation. The proposal has been sent for consultation to all South African municipalities and provinces.
Current status
The pilot project on collection of hazardous household waste was launched in February 2022 and finalised in December the same year, when another waste sorting analysis was made. The results are expected shortly.
Contact
Would you like to know more about our cooperation with South Africa? Send an email to Lotten Sjölander at lotten.sjolander@naturvardsverket.se.