3.3 Recovery, Re-use and Recycling

Recovery, re-use and recycling is the second step in the waste hierarchy. Section 17 of the Waste Act provides a framework for recovery, reuse and recycling and describes a range of discretionary measures available to the Minister in this respect. The Waste Act also specifies that the NMWS must include objectives, plans guidelines, systems and procedures relating to amongst others, reuse, recycling and recovery. The NWMS must accordingly set out a programme of measures for waste recovery, re-use and recycling, which will be consolidated into a national recycling programme. These measures will include, but will not be limited to:

Setting norms and standards for recovery, reuse and recycling of waste. The Waste Act includes a discretionary provision for national norms and standards relating to recovery, reuse and recycling of waste. In addition to the provisions set out in the Waste Act itself, it is recommended Government develop such norms and standards and identifies the activities to which these should apply.
Including targets and measures for recovery, reuse and recycling of waste in industry waste management plans. Targets for recovery, reuse and recycling of waste for all the main industrial sectors will be developed progressively over five years, in line with the roll-out of provisions for industry waste management plans.
Voluntary industry led initiatives for recovery, reuse and recycling of waste must be promoted. Most initiatives related to recovery, re-use and recycling are voluntary and industry-led. In some sectors, such as oil (ROSA) and cans (Collect-a-Can), non-profit section 21 companies have been created to promote and co-ordinate recycling. These industry-led and coordinated voluntary initiatives have largely proved successful. However there is considerable scope for expansion of the recycling industry and the improvement of recovery, re-use and recycling.
The Waste Act requires that all activities relating to waste recovery, reuse and recycling use less natural resources and are less harmful to the environment that disposal of the waste. The extent to which existing activities comply with this provision needs to be assessed.
The Waste Act allows the Minister, after consultation with the Minister of Trade and Industry, to require the recovery, reuse and recycling of products or components, and to determine a percentage of recycled material in products. These provisions will be used to reinforce industry waste management plans, and to address market failures. Guidelines for the application of these provisions need to be developed.
Job creation in relation to recovery, reuse and recycling of waste must be promoted. The recycling industry, albeit largely informal, is currently making a significant contribution to job creation and the NWMS must harness and build on the job creation potential of the industry. Employment opportunities (including informal recycling activity such as ‘waste-picking’ on landfills) are concentrated within the collection and sorting phases of recycling.
At the same time health and safety standards within the sector need attention. While it is acknowledged that waste-picking on landfills contributes significantly to the livelihoods of those involved, the health and safety hazards related to informal waste-picking on landfills is of grave concern to both government and industry. The NWMS will devise measures to accommodate the informal sector within the recycling industry.
Separation at source has been promoted as a means to both improve the quantity of recyclates, and reduce waste sent to landfill. The NWMS needs to weigh the practicalities and benefits of separation at-source against the potential negative impact it might have on employment within the informal recycling sector.
Education and awareness on the benefits associated with recovery, re-use and recycling are important to ensure public participation in re-use and recycling initiatives, and in facilitating mutually beneficial initiatives between government and industry. The NWMS will consider the practicalities associated with education and awareness and will devise measures which will best achieve this.
Inclusion of ‘green requirements’ in procurement policies are considered to have the potential for a positive economic impact on the recycling sector. The feasibility and practicality of this will be considered in the NWMS.

It is proposed that these measures are consolidated into a recovery, reuse and recycling programme. Each of the proposed measures will be further elaborated upon in the following chapter.