A Review of Plastic Waste Management Practices: What Can South Africa Learn?

A major limitation to improved waste management in South Africa lies in the paucity of reliable waste data and the exclusion of the contribution of the informal sector from reporting. Due to the disparity in the provision of formal waste management services across households in South Africa, omission of the quantified contribution of informal management practices leads to an inaccurate representation of waste management practices in existing waste data repositories. Given the potentially adverse social and environmental consequences of unregulated waste management practices, a lack of representation thereof has the potential to underestimate impacts. As of 2015, 31% of households are reported as lacking a basic refuse removal service; however, this number cannot necessarily be applied directly to waste quantities, given the regional and socio-economic differences that occur in per capita waste generation rates. The total quantity of domestic waste in South Africa and fraction disposed informally are estimated here, taking into account differences in waste generation rates based on income and settlement type. The characterisation and quantification of unregulated waste streams is beneficial in assessing the magnitude of the problem and, where necessary, identifying mitigation action. The results obtained show that 29% (3.67 million tonnes per annum) of domestic waste generated is not collected or treated via formal management options. Of this waste, the majority (85%) is generated in rural areas. The most common waste management option for unserviced households is a private dump. An estimated 94% of households in unserviced rural areas make use of private dumps, while in unserviced urban and metro areas this decreases to 74% and 71% of households, respectively. Illegal dumping is the next most common waste management option for unserviced areas. The proportion of household waste disposed of via illegal dumping ranges from an estimated 5% for unserviced rural households to 27% in metro areas with the balance made up by ‘other’ disposal/treatment options.

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E-waste Management in South Africa: Case Study: Cathode Ray Tubes Recycling Opportunities

10.20944/preprints201608.0021.v1 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Pontsho Ledwaba ◽

Ndabenhle Sosibo

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Waste Management ◽

South African ◽

Management Practices ◽

Environmental Benefits ◽

Waste Stream ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Regulatory Frameworks ◽

Recent Developments ◽

Waste Management Practices

Households and businesses are generating unprecedented levels of electrical and electronic wastes (e-waste), fueled by modernisation and rapid obsolescence. While the challenges imposed by e-waste are similar everywhere in the world, disparities in progress to deal with it exists; with developing nations such as South Africa lagging. The increase in e-waste generation increases the need to formulate strategies to manage it. This paper presents an overview of e-waste management on a global and South African scenarios with a specific case for Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) waste management practices in South Africa. CRTs present the biggest problem for recyclers and policy makers because they contain hazardous elements such as lead and antimony. Common disposal practices have been either landfilling or incineration. The research into the South African practices with regards to CRT waste management showed that there is still more to be done to effectively manage this waste stream. This is despite clear waste regulatory frameworks in the country. However, recent developments have placed e-waste as a priority waste stream, which should lead to intensified efforts in dealing with it. Overall, these efforts should aim to maximise diversion from landfilling and to create value-addition opportunities, leading to social and environmental benefits.

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Household Waste Management Practices and Challenges in a Rural Remote Town in the Hantam Municipality in the Northern Cape, South Africa

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13115903 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (11) ◽

pp. 5903

Author(s):

Jacoba M. M. Viljoen ◽

Catherina J. Schenck ◽

Liza Volschenk ◽

Phillip F. Blaauw ◽

Lizette Grobler

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Waste Management ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Local Governments ◽

Management Practices ◽

Household Waste ◽

Willingness To Participate ◽

Northern Cape ◽

Household Waste Management ◽

Waste Management Practices

Waste management in rural areas poses a major challenge to local governments in developing countries. Municipalities face limited budgets and obstacles with the collection of waste, as well as a lack of proper equipment, infrastructure, and treatment centres. These obstacles lead to further problems, such as littering and illegal dumping, contributing to the knowledge base regarding remote and rural towns in South Africa. This study aims to assess the waste management practices and challenges of households in a Municipality in the Northern Cape, South Africa. The study investigates the household waste management practices, identifies the challenges experienced by households regarding their waste management, and explores their willingness to participate in a separation-at-source program. A cross-sectional research design was used along with a mixed methods research methodology. A sample of 160 interviews was completed over the period 16 to 20 September 2019. Descriptive statistics and a thematic analysis were used in the data analysis. The results indicate that municipalities, and households, will have to collaboratively search for solutions towards effective waste management in rural areas. Financial constraints also necessitate the investigation of alternative ways of managing household waste through cooperation with surrounding towns.

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Plastic Waste Management Practices

Zero Waste ◽

10.1201/9780429059247-7 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 105-113 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Savita Sharma ◽

Sharada Mallubhotla

Keyword(s):

Waste Management ◽

Management Practices ◽

Plastic Waste ◽

Waste Management Practices

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Medical Waste Management Practices in North Eastern Free State, South Africa

Journal of Human Ecology ◽

10.1080/09709274.2014.11906815 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 48 (3) ◽

pp. 439-450 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Pululu Sexton Mahasa ◽

Tabukeli Musigi Ruhiiga

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Waste Management ◽

Management Practices ◽

Medical Waste ◽

Free State ◽

North Eastern ◽

Medical Waste Management ◽

Waste Management Practices ◽

Eastern Free State

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Blockchain Technology for Governance of Plastic Waste Management: Where Are We?

Social Sciences ◽

10.3390/socsci10110434 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 434

Author(s):

Katrien Steenmans ◽

Phillip Taylor ◽

Ine Steenmans

Keyword(s):

Waste Management ◽

Public Administration ◽

Management Practices ◽

Early Stage ◽

Plastic Waste ◽

Blockchain Technology ◽

Current State ◽

Waste Management Practices ◽

Comparable Period ◽

A Current

Blockchain technology is emerging as a plausible disruptor of waste management practices that influence the governance of plastics. The interest among the waste management community in the potential and fundamental changes to complex resource management associated with blockchain adoption parallels recent research in other sectors, such as finance, health, public administration, etc. During any comparable period characterized by a step-change in positive coverage of an early-stage technology, it can be challenging for actors to access a grounded, evidence-based oversight of the current state of practice and make informed decisions about whether or how to adopt blockchain technology. The current absence of such a systematic overview of recent experiences with blockchain initiatives disrupting waste practices not only limits the visibility of these experimental efforts, but also limits the learning that can be shared across waste plastics researcher and practitioner communities. This paper contributes with a current overview of blockchain technology adoption in the waste management sector, giving particular attention to implications for the governance of plastics. Our study draws on both primary interview data and secondary documentation data to map the landscape of current blockchain initiatives in the global waste sector. We identify four areas of blockchain use that are beginning to change waste management practices (payment, recycling and reuse rewards, monitoring and tracking of waste, and smart contracts). We conclude by outlining five areas of significant blockchain uses, implications, and influences of relevance to the development of circular plastic waste governance in both research and practice.

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Plastic Marine Waste and its Potential for Indonesian Indigenous Communities

eTropic electronic journal of studies in the tropics ◽

10.25120/etropic.19.1.2020.3697 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jacob Wood ◽

Swathi Paturi ◽

Prerna Puri ◽

Emil Senf Jakobsen ◽

Sumanth Shankar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Waste Management ◽

Management Practices ◽

Marine Pollution ◽

Indigenous Communities ◽

The Philippines ◽

Plastic Waste ◽

Infrastructure Development ◽

Complex Issue ◽

Waste Management Practices ◽

Marine Waste

The management of marine waste is an increasingly complex issue facing the world today. Our study provides an interesting take on the issue of marine waste by examining how Indonesian indigenous communities can deal with plastic marine pollution. While there is an obvious need for mitigating plastic use, for effective legislative policies regulating plastic waste management, and to do more to develop sustainable waste management practices; there are also opportunities for indigenous communities to take an innovative approach by using plastic waste in a manner that drives economic development from both non-market and neoliberal theoretical ideologies. As part of this assessment, alongside Indonesian examples we include examples of plastic re-use by indigenous communities of the Philippines and Australia. Moreover, our study highlights some of the areas in which this is being done in the fields of art and infrastructure development.

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