Waste to be classified according to new Act
The Waste Classification and Management Regulations will serve to regulate the classification and management of waste.
THE Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa, published the Waste Classification and Management Regulations, the Norms and Standards for the Assessment of Waste for Landfill and the Norms and Standards for the Disposal of Waste to Landfill in the Gazette of 23 August 2013, for immediate implementation.
The Waste Classification and Management Regulations serve to regulate the classification and management of waste in a manner which supports and implements the provisions of the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008.
The regulations will enable the improved, and more efficient, classification and management of waste, provide for safe and appropriate handling, storage, recovery, reuse, recycling, treatment and disposal of waste and will also enable accurate and relevant reporting on waste generation and management.
The regulations will also direct the consideration of higher order management options for waste, in line with the Waste Management Hierarchy and will support the beneficial use of resources from waste that does not harm the environment or health and will promote the diversion of waste from landfill.
All waste generators, excluding domestic generators, must ensure that the waste they generate is classified within 180 days of its generation.
The classification process will establish whether a waste is hazardous, based on the nature of its physical, health and environmental properties and will determine the degree or severity of the hazard posed.
Waste classification may be peer reviewed if the minister believes the waste has not been classified correctly. There are a number of waste streams that do not require classification or assessment.
These include, but are not limited to, garden waste, domestic waste, waste tyres, asbestos waste, health care risk waste and expired, spoilt or unusable hazardous products. Once classified, waste generators must ensure their waste is re-used, recycled, recovered, treated and/or disposed of within 18 months.
The Norms and Standards stipulate the waste acceptance criteria for disposal to landfill and the various waste disposal restrictions.
