The new Waste Management Bylaws were published in the Gauteng Provincial Gazette on 30 July 2013 and are now being enforced.
The main objectives of the new bylaws are to “ensure that waste is primarily avoided or alternatively minimised, re-used, recycled, recovered and disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner”. Furthermore it aims to “promote sustainable development and environmental justice through fair and reasonable measures for the management of waste by the Council and to regulate the collection, transportation, storage, disposal, treatment and recycling of waste”.
It also aims to “regulate and ensure the effective delivery of the municipal service of waste management” and “regulate the provision of commercial services through accreditation of service providers in order to ensure that all municipal residents and businesses in the City participate in the promotion of responsible citizenship by ensuring sound waste management practices with residential and industrial environments”.
The affected parties are businesses, households, venue owners and events organisers. The new bylaws also will affect the Council.
Henceforth venue owners and events organisers must submit an event waste management plan at least 30 days prior to the event. A refundable deposit as determined by Council must be paid five days before the event. The venue owner or event organiser is liable for the full cost of the cleaning up, removal, recycling and disposal for all waste generated at the event and must use an accredited service provider.
Builders and developers must submit a Waste Management Plan (WMP) alongside their Site Development Plan (SDP), which must include the manner in which all building and other waste is to be managed, treated, collected, transported and disposed of, and they must supply proof that accredited service providers will be used.
The WMP must be approved first by the Council and no SDP will be approved unless the WMP has been approved. When submitting a WMP, the developer must pay a refundable deposit determined by the Council.
All generators of building waste must ensure that no additions or alterations are done without making provision for the waste that will be generated from that site, that recyclable waste is separated and until disposal that all waste and its containers are kept on the site. Sites must not become unsightly due to the waste generated.
Waste is not allowed on pavements unless it is in a skip. Waste receptacles must be marked clearly with the name of the person in control of the receptacle, be fitted with reflective chevrons and must be covered at all times.
For more information go to https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/22822025/New%20Waste%20Management%20Bylaws%2030%20jul%202013.pdf.
