1.4 Objectives

The requirement for a new national waste management strategy is specified in Chapter 2 Part 1 of the National Environmental Management: Waste Bill (the Waste Act).

The NWMS must achieve the objects of the Act, which are (in summary):

• preserving natural resources by minimizing their consumption and preventing pollution;
• waste minimization, which includes recycling, re-using, and recovering waste;
• treatment and safe disposal of waste as a last resort;
• effective delivery of waste services;
• remediation of contaminated land;
• integrated waste management reporting and planning;
• promoting public awareness of the impact of waste;
• achieving compliance with waste legislation and policy.

The Act does not apply to radioactive waste, residue deposits, disposal of explosives and animal carcasses, which are already handled by specific legislation.

The Waste Act requires that the NWMS give effect to the Republic’s obligations in terms of international agreements.

The NWMS should identify the responsibilities of the different spheres of government and organs of state in terms of implementation of the Waste Act.

The Waste Act envisages:

• the inclusion of specific targets for waste reduction in the NWMS;
• differentiation between different geographical areas in the NWMS;
• classification and categorization of waste;
• a phased approach to implementation.