Story | 15 10月, 2020

South Africa approves climate change, emissions reduction and waste management plans

IUCN is supporting National governments and stakeholders in the Eastern and Southern Africa region to integrate a circular economy approach in addressing and reducing plastic pollution.

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Photo: IUCN ESARO

This article has been modified - Original article published on the South Africa Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries website

South Africa has recently approved three key actions that will contribute to an environment that is not only healthy for all South Africans, but also able to contribute effectively to sustainable economic development and job creation. 

During its meeting in September 2020, the Cabinet approved the revised National Waste Management Strategy 2020, the Low Emissions Development Strategy, and the Presidential Climate Change Coordinating Commission (PCCCC).

The approved National Waste Management Strategy (NWMS) 2020 is broadly focused on preventing waste and diverting waste from landfill by leveraging the concept of Circular Economy to drive sustainable, inclusive economic growth and development in the waste sector, while reducing the social and environmental impacts of waste. Its implementation plan is designed to facilitate the creation of jobs in the waste sector and increase awareness and compliance around waste.

Building on the successes and lessons learned from the 2011 strategy

Among the significant strategic shifts from the 2011 strategy in the NWMS 2020 include addressing the role of waste pickers and the informal sector in the Circular Economy, promoting product design packaging that reduces waste or encourages reuse, repair and preparation for recycling, and support markets for source separated recyclables. NWMS 2020 also investigates potential regulatory or economic interventions to increase participation rates in residential separation at source programmes, alongside investing in the economies associated with transporting of recyclables to waste processing facilities and addressing the skills gaps within the sector.

IUCN MARPLASTICCs initiative

Through its MARPLASTICCs initiative, IUCN supported the strategy development process by sharing knowledge and lessons derived from its activities addressing marine plastics and advocating for the integration of the marine plastic pollution dimension which had been missing in the previous strategy. “South Africa’s vision and commitment in addressing waste is commendable, as articulated through its new waste management strategy that puts great emphasis on waste prevention and minimization, and enshrines the concept of circular economy,” said Peter Manyara, the Regional Project Coordinator, MARPLASTICCs project.

IUCN is supporting National governments and stakeholders in the Eastern and Southern Africa region to integrate a circular economy approach in addressing and reducing plastic pollution. This is achieved through its multipronged approach that contributes to strengthening national knowledge on plastic leakage at all stages of plastics life-cycle, including co-shaping recommendations on appropriate interventions and policy instruments to address the problem. 

Overarching pillars of the National Waste Management Strategy 2020

There are three overarching pillars of the revised National Waste Management Strategy 2020:

  • Minimise waste: In terms of Waste Minimisation, the aim is to prevent waste. Where waste cannot be prevented, 40% should be diverted from landfill within 5 years through reuse, recycling, recovery and alternative waste treatment: 25% of waste reduction in waste generation; and 20% waste reused in the economic value chain.
  • Effective and Sustainable Waste Services: This will see all South Africans living in clean communities with waste services that are well managed and financially sustainable.
  • Waste Awareness and Compliance: This is aimed at creating a culture of compliance with zero tolerance of pollution, litter and illegal dumping.