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4. Review of the 1999 NWMS and its implementation

Submitted by admin on Mon, 2009-04-13 11:05

4.1
The 1999 NWMS was the first integrated strategy for addressing South Africa’s waste management challenges, and gave effect to the suite of policies and legislation which preceded it, including the Constitution (1996), the Environmental Management Policy for South Africa (1998), the Draft White Paper on Integrated Pollution & Waste Management (1998), the National Water Act (1998) and NEMA (1998). The overall objective of the strategy was to reduce the generation of waste and reduce the impact of all forms of waste on economic development, health and the quality of environmental resources.
 

4.2
The 1999 NWMS sought to achieve three key goals:

  1. Develop strategies for integrated waste management;
  2. Develop action plans to implement the strategies; and
  3. Build capacity within DEAT and DWAF to implement the action plans.

4.3
The 1999 NWMS was based on the waste hierarchy approach, and covers eight key elements which are: integrated waste management & planning, a waste information system, waste management & prevention, recycling, waste collection & transport, waste treatment, waste disposal, and implementing instruments.

4.4
The 1999 NWMS set out strategies up to the year 2010 in which national, provincial, and local government were assigned functions and responsibilities, and in which quantifiable plans, objectives and targets were set. Consisting of two main parts and several supporting annexures, the 1999 NWMS identified priority initiatives for the short, medium and long term. Each priority initiative was rated against the criteria identified in the Draft White Paper on Integrated Pollution & Waste Management. Part two of the 1999 NWMS provides detailed information on both the background of each priority initiative and the detailed planning for the achievement of these.
An overview of the main proposals and progress with their implementation is set out below, structured according to the thematic areas identified in terms of the 1999 NWMS priority initiatives.