The Vision Zero Waste Handbook Vol 4 - Alive2green

The Vision Zero Waste Handbook

South Africa Volume 4 The essential guide to resource efficiency in South Africa

VISION

ISBN 978-0-620-45067-6

9 780620 450676

04

R150.00 incl. VAT

ZERO WASTE

The

Vision Zero Waste Handbook

South Africa Volume 4

EDITOR Lloyd Macfarlane

DIVISIONAL HEAD OF SALES Annie Pieters

CONTRIBUTORS Alex lemille, Andrew Bennett, Angus Ryan, Benoit Le Roy, Chris Liebenberg, Chris van Zyl, Helga Dietrich, Dr. Herman Wiechers, Hugh Tyrell, Susanne Karcher, Dr Suzan Oelofse, Thomas Myburgh

ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES Eduard Ellis Glenda Kulp Jennifer Benjamin Paul Martincich Siobhan Pheiffer

PEER REVIEWER Lloyd Macfarlane

CHIEF EXECUTIVE Gordon Brown

LAYOUT & DESIGN Nicole Kenny DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER Nabilah Hassen

DIRECTORS Gordon Brown Andrew Fehrsen Lloyd Macfarlane

DISTRIBUTION Edward Macdonald

EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES lloyd@gsacampbell.com

HR ASSISTANT Leslie-Rae Webber

PUBLISHER

CLIENT LIASON MANAGER Eunice Visagie

www.alive2green.com

CLIENT LIASON OFFICER Linda Tom

The

The Sustainability Series Of Handbooks PHYSICAL ADDRESS: Alive2green Cape Media House 28 Main Road Rondebosch Cape Town South Africa 7700 TEL: 021 447 4733 FAX: 086 6947443 Company Registration Number: 2006/206388/23 Vat Number: 4130252432

Sustainability and Integrated REPORTING HANDBOOK South Africa 2014

ISBN No: 978 0 620 45240 3. Volume 4 first Published January 2013. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any way or in any form without the prior written consent of the publisher. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Publisher or the Editor. All editorial contributions are accepted on the understanding that the contributor either owns or has obtained all necessary copyrights and permissions.

IMAGES AND DIAGRAMS: Space limitations and source format have a affected the size of certain published images and/or diagrams in this publication. For larger PDF versions of these images please contact the Publisher.

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THE VISION ZERO WASTE HANDBOOK

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The

Sustainability and Integrated REPORTING HANDBOOK South Africa 2014

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EDITOR’S NOTE The concept of zero waste is somewhat idealistic and perhaps even practically impossible, but it remains a worthy and necessary vision if we are to address issues around waste in the medium to long term.

The vision of Zero Waste requires that we make a giant shift from linear to circular systems and requires that we do away with the concept of disposal and the contemplation of scenarios in which products have no end of life. Like any audacious vision it requires a commitment to baby steps. And it is rewarding to see that these baby steps are being taken, and that momentum is gathering. Some of these steps are linked to the diversion of materials from landfill through reuse or recycling and the reassessment of the economic value of materials—cost versus value of waste.

Experts and thought leaders have contributed articles to this handbook that profile these and other issues and concepts in a fast changing sector. In many of these articles, the writers call upon stakeholders to increase their involvement in various ways and I hope that the readers of this handbook will take action in whatever way possible. It would seem that there remains a strong call for the public sector (and industry associations) to educate and involve the public, and to increase investments in distributed networks of waste processing facilities around the country. It would also seem that the private sector, and manufacturers in particular, should be focussing on improving the recyclability of materials used, and also incorporating green procurement policies in their supply chains. There are a range of great proposals, ideas and case studies in the pages of this handbook and I hope you enjoy the read.

Lloyd macfarlane Editor

Sincerely Lloyd Macfarlane Editor

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Promoting packaging’s positive role for industry, community and the environment

Support this PACSA objective Visit www.pacsa.co.za to find out how

FOREWORD

The Packaging Council of South Africa (PACSA), formed in 1985, is a non-profit organisation whose principal objective is to provide environmental, educational and other support to the packaging and paper industry in South Africa. Its membership comprises of converters and companies that are active in the glass, paper, metal and plastics sectors and who make up approximately 70% of the local packaging industry.

PACSA recognises the many issues that South Africa faces with respect to recycling, diversion of waste from landfill, cleaning up of the environment and the need for job creation. Employment in particular remains a critical challenge for the country as a whole and the opportunities of the waste sector to play an important role in addressing this cannot be underestimated.

PACSA, alone however, cannot meet all the aspirations and objectives of the various stakeholders and we can only make our country a better place for all if everyone collaborates and plays their respective roles effectively – this includes the National and Provincial Governments, municipalities, producers and converters, importers, the waste sector, brand-owners and of course the consumer.

PACSA supports the objectives of Alive2Green and endorses the re-launched Vision Zero Waste Handbook.

It is an important publication that offers insight and value to all those involved in the management of waste.

Charles Muller Executive Director Packaging Council of SA

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Let`s Clean-up and Recycle! Zero Waste to Landfill!

The human population growth, as well as the needs of people, which continue to put pressure on the minimal natural resources on earth, increased the need to look for ways to converse the limited natural resources.

Waste recycling plays a vital role such as reducing the utilization of raw materials, diverts waste away from landfills, saves energy, helps mitigate greenhouse emissions and creates sustainable jobs and grows the economy.

Many people still fail to understand the full significance of recycling. Recycling is the practice of sorting out, collecting, processing and converting of waste products into new materials. In many developing countries, where labour costs are low and there is a market for everything that can be reused or reprocessed, collecting and selling of recyclables has always been a major source of income for the poor. Recycling in South Africa has generally focused on effective collection of pre- and post-consumer waste from industrial end-users and bulk consumption areas such as Shopping Centres, Hotels and Restaurants. The low level of collection and “separation at source” from households has been a great weakness to date and effective kerbside collections are now necessary to achieve an increase in recycling targets, ensure better quality recyclable materials and ensure “less waste send to landfills”.

The various material organizations promoting the recycling of plastics, glass, cans, paper and board, oil and electronic waste have made significant progress with their voluntary initiatives and the packaging industry has compiled an Paper and Packaging Industry Waste Management Plan (PPIWMP) to ensure a more effective communication between the industry and all levels of Government and Municipalities and in order to achieving a growth in the recycling rates.

The National Recycling Forum (NRF) supports the aims and objectives of Alive2Green which promotes waste management and recycling to the South African waste industry, industries and community at large.

Recycling can be a great contributor to the South African economy through job creation opportunities and a direct benefit to the environment!

FOREWORD

Douw Steyn Director Sustainability National Recycling Forum

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CONTRIBUTORS

LLOYD MACFARLANE

Lloyd is the Chief Executive and founder of GSA Campbell Consulting and a Director at Alive2green. GSA Campbell provides strategy, sustainability and marketing services to corporates and SME companies. Alive2green is a leading sustainability media company that owns and operates conferences, exhibitions, handbooks, magazines and electronic media properties within the broader sector of sustainability. Lloyd has an MBA and a BSocSci and also possesses relevant qualifications and experience in reporting, marketing, assurance and strategy. Lloyd is the Editor of the Green Business Journal as well as the Sustainability and Integrated Reporting Handbook.

ALEX LEMILLE Alex Lemille is the managing director of Wizeimpact (www.wizeimpact.co.za), a South African based company that seeks to transform wealth-focused linear corporates into value-centric circular ventures. At Wizeimpact, Alex promotes the concept of Valued Circular Economy where value creation is emphasized to find solutions to challenges that one faces in South Africa: unemployment, low skill task force & unequal society.

ANDREW BENNETT Andrew Bennett is an Environmental Management consultant specializing in corporate learning and development for Sustainability. After graduating from UCT in 1994, Andrew taught high school Geography for eleven years before joining Woolworths as a customer relations’ manager and Good Business Journey Champion. In 2009 he left Woolies to cofound icologie, a Sustainability Consultancy based in Cape Town. Andrew is married and has a son.

ANGUS RYAN Angus is part of the GCX Africa team, where specialises in the field of Business Sustainability and Strategy. He applies his experience to understanding the uniqueness of clients, and identifying opportunities to embed systemic sustainability into the organisations overall strategy. His engagement with clients encompasses uncovering the true costs and efficiencies within operational processes, and ensuring that compliance is not overlooked or disregarded, in the interests of managing costs.

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BENOIT LE ROY

CONTRIBUTORS

Benoît is a seasoned environmental engineer with three decades of associated corporate engineering and management experience in the water, sanitation and waste sectors. The experience gained in designing, implementing and operating air pollution abatement, water, effluent, waste water treatment and waste management infrastructure has enabled Benoît to maintain a leading edge view of global best practice. However the need to investigate and implement alternative approaches, not necessarily the mainstreams’ preferred route, has led to him to establishing a company to realise these philosophies in the sub-Saharan region.

CHRIS LIEBENBERG Chris Liebenberg recently retired as the Global Managing Consultant, Waste Management, of WorleyParsons, where he was responsible for expanding waste management services globally in the group. Currently he does specialist consulting work. He began his civil engineering career in 1975 on construction of dams and water distribution systems, after which he became progressively more involved in environmental and waste engineering projects, executing his first waste project in 1987.

CHRIS VAN ZYL Joined the Vineyard Hotel in November 2001 as the horticulturist with the focus to maintain and develop the extensive 6 acres gardens. In 2004 I was asked by the Director Lex Petousis to assist the Western Cape Government with their Cleaner Production Project assessment . This is where my involvement with sustainability started. I was appointed as the Group Sustainability and Horticultural manager assisting both Oudewerf and Town House hotels as well .At the Vineyard we have had substantial success in the waste category having won an Imvelo award and our current percentage waste recycled for August 2014 is 97%.

DR SUSAN OELOFSE Dr Oelofse obtained a Ph.D. degree in Botany in 1994. After a short career in botany, she joined government where her focus changed to pollution and waste management. After 10 years in government she moved to the CSIR, in 2006 where she currently holds the position of Principal Researcher and Research Group Leader for Waste Management for Development. She is also the President of the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa.

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HELGA DIETRICH

CONTRIBUTORS

Helga Dietrich has been an Environmentalist for 22 years, solving environmental problems.

She founded two companies. The first, Organic Farm & Garden Supplies (soil and plant remediation, animal health, composting, natural liquid fertilizer and water problems) , thereafter she aquired an education in Waste Management and founded the second company- Imvemvane Logistics (Waste to Diesel, Waste Tyre Recycling). She has since become involved in Plasma Technology – the cleanest, most effective and affordable way to zero waste and end of landfills.

DR. HERMAN WIECHERS Dr Wiechers obtained a Ph.D. in the field of water and wastewater chemistry and treatment.

His fields of expertise include: Environmental Management, Solid Waste Management, Climate Change, Air Emission Strategies, Mine Water Management and Treatment, Water Chemistry and Pollution and its amelioration, and Project Management. Dr Wiechers is a Senior Fellow of the Water Institute of South Africa, a Member of the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa, and a Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, UK. He is Managing Director, Dube Ngeleza Wiechers Environmental Consultancy (Pty) Ltd HUGH TYRRELL Hugh Tyrrell has over twenty years’ experience in environmental communications and the green economy. Through his company GreenEdge he leads collaborative teams providing research, marketing and communications services to the private and public sector, with a focus on waste minimisation and recycling behaviour change. Hugh has a degree in Sociology and was the founding editor of ReSource magazine, official journal of South Africa’s recycling and waste management industry.

SUSANNE KARCHER Chemical Engineer Susanne Karcher started her environmental consulting business “EnviroSense” in 1999, which specialises in the planning, development and facilitation of tailor-made “Integrated Resource and Material (rather than “Waste”) Management” programmes. Since 2010 she runs the affairs as the coordinator and chair(wo)man of the Southern African e-Waste Alliance (SAEWA) NPO. The SAEWA is currently positioning itself to become the official voice representing environmentally responsible and ethically operating collectors, dismantlers, recyclers and refurbishers of electric and electronic goods in South(ern) Africa.

THOMAS MYBURGH Consults on Radioactive Waste, Safety and Training- & Materials Development. Owner: Vendgalaxy Business Solutions and Tutormathics. Previously Head of Radioactive Waste Management at Eskom’s Koeberg Nuclear Power Station. Completed: Business Management Development Programme (DUT) and Higher Certificate: Business Management - Project Management Specialization(Current). Interests: Jazz, camping, chess and philately. Happily married with 3 kids.

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CONTENTS A South African Circular Economy Ensuring prosperity and inclusiveness Alex Lemille

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Connecting the Dots The Role of “Extended Producer Responsibility” in Responsible E-Waste Management Susanne Karcher

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An Alternative Philosophy An Alternative Philosophy Benoit Le Roy

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Barriers to Improving Reclamation Rates Improving and Formalising Recycling in South Africa Chris Liebenberg

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Exploring Waste to Energy Resource Efficiency in a Circular Loop System Helga Dietrich

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Wastewater Treatment in South Africa The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Dr. Herman Wiechers

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Business Waste Value Linear vs Circular Angus Ryan

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CONTENTS Food Waste in South Africa Understanding the Magnitude, Water Footprint and Cost Dr Suzan Oelofse

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Radioactive Waste...a Necessary Evil?

A Brief Primer on Radioactive Nuclear Waste Thomas Myburgh

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At-Source Recycling What Is and Isn’t Working Amongst Some Western Cape Municipalities Hugh Tyrrell

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A Case Study for Waste Management in the Hospitality Sector The Vineyard Hotel Chris van Zyl

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Waste Awareness Taking Off at Cape Town International Airport Engaging Stakeholders in Waste Minimisation Andrew Bennett

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Project Profiles Case Studies

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SOUTH AFRICAN CIRCULAR ECONOMY

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A SOUTH AFRICAN CIRCULAR ECONOMY Ensuring Prosperity & Inclusiveness

Alex Lemille

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SOUTH AFRICAN CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Moving away from the “logical mechanics” world

We have recently come to comprehend critical “relationships” —I would call them—as humans: the first one is that the answer to our chronological patterns may be found in the way natural systems evolve; the second one is that we need to move away from believing in, and seeing, the world as a machine.

The human-related economic system sits within the overarching biological system and not the contrary!

We are part of an extraordinarily complex world of natural processes that do not follow a linear path or an exact science; at least not one that we are capable of understanding today. As professor Thomas Homer-Dixon, Ph.D., at the Balsillie School of International Affairs in Waterloo, Canada says: “We need to shift from seeing the world as composed largely of simple machines to seeing it as composed mainly of complex systems”.

We are at the inception of trying to apprehend a lot more of these extraordinary structures through biomimicry: the imitation of models, systems, and elements that constitute our planet for the purpose of solving complex human problems. And, guess what? We are getting numerous answers and, surprisingly innovative, solutions! “Learning about the natural world is one thing, learning from the natural world is something else” as Janine Benyus, founder of the Biomimicry Institute, puts it. Through our advanced sciences “we’ve looked at the ‘software side’ but not at the ‘hardware side’” i.e. of how we have created machines and goods we live with. By looking at, and mimicking, our living world, we have started to learn how to make better products. For instance, finding more reliable building material thanks to copying the structure of seashells, or mimicking lotus leaves to create a spray-on coating that repels water so that rain water can clean our buildings, or even, how the Namib Desert beetle quenches its thirst by using microscopic bumps on its back to gather water from the fog. Drawing water this way could become a key technology for our water consumption in the years to come, especially in a water-scarce country like South Africa.

The second thing we have recently learnt is that the world does not function like a well-oiled machine, as Newton concluded in the 17th century. In Newton’s “The Clockwork Universe”, the world was seen as a

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SOUTH AFRICAN CIRCULAR ECONOMY

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giant mechanism operating with an exact automated regularity. It took seventy years for the authorities of the time to accept Newton’s idea and, centuries later, we still believe the dogma of a predictable, understandable and controllable world in which we live. However, now more than ever, we have started to realise how very little we know and that irreversible actions that were taken during our industrial era now need a quick fix. Or, rather, I should say an ‘ordered complex’ and slow localised fix, due to the multiple system types we are part of.

A waste-hungry linear system

Throughout our industrial history, our technological advances have been remarkable; we all know this as we depend on these technologies in our everyday lives. Living without them would be inconceivable. Yet, there is one major aspect of our mode of production that hasn’t changed since its early beginning in the United Kingdom, the modus-operandi of processing things: we take resources off the ground, we make products from these elements, we buy them, we consume them, and when it is time to change, we simply dispose of them. We generate waste and financial losses throughout the processing chain with most of the leftovers generated at the “take” phase; when goods are extracted. We apply the most fossil and labour energy at that stage and create about 96% of squandered resources throughout our industrial practices. This particular step is highly present in our South African economy, in the mining sector, and has, in recent years, shaken up its economy.

This is symptomatic of the nature of the take/make/dispose manufacturing model in which we live. Such a linear model blooms when resources are abundant, but

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cannot adapt and is self-destructive, when resources are scarce. We have entered that phase, also called the “Conservation” stage, where cooperation between species is taking the lead, given that most resources are locked-up. We, therefore, have to adapt to this ‘cooperation’ within our system; a necessary path before a future new cycle of abundance (although quite long-term).

Living in a world with limited resources and not evolving to this cooperative mode is extremely risky. Our chances of surviving to the next cycle would be slim.

Adapting to a world of scarcities

Should your children be born in 2014, the chance that they won’t be able to offer a gold or silver ring on their wedding day is high, given that these metals are projected to disappear within the next 15 years.

Antimony, used in lead-acid batteries, is not only meant to disappear within 10 years, but, besides a small South African production, is mainly produced in China, adding monopolistic pressures on top of scarcity. Antimony was classified in 2011, by the British Geological Survey, as a threat to its current economic lifestyle. Even oil resources are suggested to disappear by 2050, and only if they are allowed to continue pumping at current depths during these times of unbearable CO2 levels. And yet we learn, no later than this month of August, that oil and gas companies haven’t provisioned enough for the rising cost of deep exploration and are now selling off their assets at an unprecedented rate, while, of course, maintaining generous dividends.

Seriously, as nations and corporations, would it not be more organised to be studying transitional paths to run our economies without oil today?

With this in mind, some industries decided to lower their exposure to raw

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material financial markets. Prices have gone through the roof since 2000 and chances are high that they will continue on this path; a growing population with exponential middle-classes, political tensions, resource scarcity, and so on. This is the case in the car industry where companies like Renault took the lead in applying the principles of a closed-loop system, or a circular economy, whereby industry waste, such as steel, lithium, and copper, is valued and feeds future productions. Renault and its partners reinvented their activity by becoming experts in part extraction, foundry, remanufacturing, repurposing and producing car bodies and engines at competitive selling prices; up to 30% less compared to engines made with new parts. Today, the rate of reuse in a Renault car engine is way beyond 60 to 70% made from old engine parts, while still offering the same warranty to their customers.

But a circular economy and its principles go beyond recycling in a closed loop. A circular economy is about making sure that we all live comfortably by evolving our approach to market processes; from product design and creation to product repurposing. Note that the concept of product end-of-life no longer exists. The same goes for our food and non-food waste that is treated in such a way that produces biogas or is sent back to the biosphere safely (chemical free) to rejuvenate our soils. The circular economy is an industrial economy where waste is designed out, thanks to a restorative process created through product design or process intention. This is the overarching economy influenced by breakthrough sustainability concepts such as cradle-to-cradle, biomimicry, natural capitalism, performance economy and industrial ecology. It not only sets up the framework in which we could possibly live responsibly in the coming decades, but it

SOUTH AFRICAN CIRCULAR ECONOMY

brings recognized advantages to customers, suppliers and governments in a much more socially inclusive economy.

A “win-in-3D” (aka winwin-win) situation for all

For us, as customers, we should experience a drop in retail prices for materials and equipment should we decide to use, and not consume, goods. Obviously we will have the choice in acquiring domestic apparel; a TV or a mobile phone, but accessing these goods will be offered in such a way that it will only be advantageous and hard to refuse. By accessing apparels sold as a service, customers will be guaranteed to receive a performing service. Why? Because it will be in the interest of the manufacturer to maintain the appliance for the longest possible time in order for that item to remain in your home for an extended length of time.

Contrary to today’s forced obsolescence, goods of tomorrow will be sold as a service according to the type of customer you are—VIP, Corporate, Fashionistas, Easygoing, Low income, Careful, etc.—and will last for several years. Two principles from the circular economy: the longer the product life, the more profitable for the manufacturer and accessing goods versus buying goods gives customers the ability to access diverse goods whenever they wish. Should you not be impressed by the latest mobile phone from brand X it will be in the interest of brand X to put forward a new offer you cannot refuse. Failure to do so might see you go for another brand (say ‘brand Y’) and not come back for years as service performance will be the highest with brand Y. Purchasing a service-per-use will also drastically change our lives for the better. In the medium-term it will mean a shift from buying on credit to only paying for what you used of the product, i.e. the time spent on a particular device, the number of times you switched

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on your TV or the program you watched. You certainly would not pay for that TV upfront, or worse, on credit! That would have a definite positive effect on our purses while changing our consumption patterns. Paying only for the time of use of the product will diminish our energy consumption as well as water use. If I only pay every time I use the TV or the dishwasher, there will be a de-facto effect on my energy and water bill too.

A supplier of equipment evolving within a circular economy would require a drastic change in business models, of production set up, and of functions and methods to finance the new model. But the advantages here would be numerous: no more endof-life of a product means that the very same product, and its components, would generate cost savings (ownership of the product remains with the supplier), and a product sold as a service would generate several cash-flows through a much longer lifespan that will now be under control. A brand new, high-end dishwasher could be contracted by a VIP customer for, say, two years, while the retailer or producer of the dishwasher would come regularly to maintain it in an immaculate state. A VIP pays R25 for every wash he/she makes. At the end of the two years that item goes to the next customer in line, less interested in accessing that high-end dishwasher in the first place, only to pay R20 a wash. The appliance is provided with a new product warranty as all critical parts have been maintained or changed. A few years down the line, the very same dishwasher moves to the next customer, for R14 a wash, and so on, as long as the product can be maintained at a perfect state. Why? Here again, it is in the interest of the supplier to satisfy its customers, even in the lower income range.

By the time the washer reaches the less fortunate, or people who do not wish to spend much on the service, it will be long

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paid for! The lower price per wash will still be an attractive model, and, therefore, its service longevity will be maximized. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation found out that a durable washing machine sold as a service could generate up to 38% in savings for customers and 35% less costs for producers.

Finally, governments should play their enablement role as a circular economy could mean numerous job creation opportunities, a healthier national economy with citizens accessing only what they use or need, less waste generation, and a system that regenerates the environment we depend on. Needless to say, such an economy would also reduce our CO2 emissions over the long-term. By managing performance, manufacturers will be chosen according to the levels, monitored live, of CO2 emitted by their activities. Take the example of Philips in Washington D.C.; the city handed over the control of its lighting system to Philips for a period of 10 years. Washington D.C. did not pay a cent to Philips and asked the company to perform the service as agreed: change 13,000 bulbs to energy-saving ones, and manage lighting wisely, and dynamically, according to the needs. The objectives of such an agreement speak for themselves: by reducing the city energy bill, Philips is paid on savings achieved by the city (energy, waste, money, etc.), while reducing its carbon emissions. One estimates that Philips will generate hefty commissions!

“Made in Circular South Africa�

We know, given the earlier statement on resource scarcity, that there is only one way forward; managing national resources securely and wisely. So, why not accelerate the shift to a South African circular structure now? The earlier this economy is adopted, the better for South Africa and its citizens.

This is because the local economy, like the

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international one, has shown its limits. The local economy is linear with all the damages we outlined earlier, such as waste being out of control, depletion of resources, and poor soil quality in which to grow food. We lose value, in labour energy, embedded energy, waste creation, and biosphere degradation, at all levels of our production cycles that we can no longer afford. Besides, this new economy is about profit maximisation and job creation too. Functions such as re-manufacturing, re-purposing, and maintaining a highly performing stock of goods within the economy does not exist today, and, therefore, has huge potential for job creation. Economies of scale are limited in volume and geography; each country would manage its pile of material securely, creating jobs locally. Therefore, the repair, maintenance and re-purposing of these goods could be labelled as “Made in Circular South Africa”. An entire economy could flourish from the point of remanufacturing onwards, with no external costs and competitiveness issues.

A Valued Circular Economy, a more adapted version?

A Valued Circular Economy ( VCE)* emphasizes the societal side of a circular economy and could suit the local context quite nicely; from job creation to an additional tool to fight poverty. A VCE accentuates the creation of micro-jobs, micro-tasks, social entrepreneurship and other regenerative behaviour (ability to act as engaged citizen in such a way that daily positive impact is recognized). Such acts will be valorised and incentivised as they accelerate the system regeneration process, while developing consciousness patterns.

Another major difference with a VCE is that it does not promote profit maximisation, but rather value creation; even though both will generate larger profits than today

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and, therefore, more value. We have the tools to measure corporate value creation like the Social Return on Investment (SROI) or through the work of the Social Impact Analysts Association (SIIA). These should be widely spread in such a way that corporate success is measured on value (social, environmental, economic, cultural values to name a few) and no longer solely on revenue. At the customer level, a VCE would provide access to any goods that low income households cannot afford today, according to their specific needs within a relational economy. Moving away from consumer credit would benefit all layers of society.

The Potential is Everywhere

Such a framework is not only desirable, but possible now. Why? Because we have technologies that are able to track goods, to monitor when you switched your dishwasher on or off, and to enable live-streaming of your CO2 emissions and energy consumption. Meaning you will be rewarded accordingly.

It is about time that South Africa engages in such a beneficial concept, in order to position the country on a prosperous and all-inclusive path. We do not have precise figures for what it will mean for South Africa right now, but at GDP equivalence, i.e. a $630bn in European material savings in an advanced circular economy scenario, it could translate to R170bn savings yearly for the local economy. A South African economy that finds it difficult to grow and create new jobs should be inspired to look at this model a little closer. Let’s not wait seventy years. * Valued Circular Economy or VCE is a comprehensive concept developed by Wizeimpact, aiming at developing the social angle of Circular Economy.

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E-WASTE MANAGEMENT

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CONNECTING THE DOTS The Role of “Extended Producer Responsibility” in Responsible E-Waste Management

Susanne Yvonne Karcher (MSC. ChemEng.)

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E-WASTE MANAGEMENT

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his article will investigate how the successful introduction of an industry driven and financed EPR fee scheme can provide fertile grounds to realise a zero waste vision for the management of end of life electronic and electrical equipment (also more commonly referred to as “e-waste”). Baseline studies that were conducted in South Africa (Finlay, 2008) suggest that e-waste is currently the fastest growing waste stream in South Africa, growing in the region of between 4-6% per annum. However, on their latest nationwide e-waste collection advertising flyer, the organiser, “eWASA” states that in 2012 “each South African produced 6.63 kg of e-waste, of which less than one kg was collected”. These interesting findings were derived from baseline research conducted by “STEP” for input data for a world map on e-waste (STEP, 2012) as well as a nationwide survey of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on eWASA registered e-waste and metal recyclers.

The research suggests current collection rates of 13% – either recovered for recycling, or disposed of. In South Africa, the IDC estimated 34 workers for every 1 100 tonnes of e-waste collected. So the question automatically arises as to what mechanisms would have to be put in place to drastically increase the recovery for recycling statistics, reduce materials, and potential technical nutrients feedstock, that get currently lost through land-filling, whilst dramatically boosting the number of “green jobs” that can emerge from responsible e-waste recovery and recycling.

The role of the SAEWA in responsible e-waste management

Since 2007, the Southern African e-Waste Alliance (SAEWA) and its managing members, all of which are key role players in the regional e-waste recycling and refurbishment business, have been committed to systematically establishing a blueprint and regional solution for the responsible collection, transport and treatment of all types and conditional states of e-waste. Apart from South Africa, SAEWA members are also located in Namibia and Lesotho in response to the challenge to create “economies of scale” for some materials, so that their recovery and recycling becomes increasingly viable.

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Through voluntary agreements on the technical and operation minimum standards, as stipulated in the SAEWA “Code of Conduct” ( http://sa.ewastealliance.co.za/ index.php/downloads ), there are minimum entry level requirements to apply for SAEWA membership. The aim of all members is to collaborate with each other and to follow the Integrated Waste Management hierarchy, thereby reducing the amount of materials that become waste at any stage of the treatment process. Through this, clearly defined, collaboration of SAEWA members, all waste is kept to an absolute minimum.

It is a matter of fact that a lot of “e-waste,” if compared to other waste types still offers considerable repair and refurbishment potential, if not in its entirety at least for certain components, hence, the recovery of function always takes precedence over the recovery of materials. It is also understood that cherry-picking viable parts is not acceptable for SAEWA members and that a responsible treatment solution needs to be developed for all of the fractions, including the ones that are currently direct cost liabilities to dismantlers and downstream recyclers.

Current key viability challenges

These are increasingly significant cost liabilities as they need to be disposed of in

a hazardous waste-classified landfill in the absence of any regional recycling solutions.

Such items currently include CRT monitors, laptop batteries, and capacitors.

Unfortunately, prices for landfilling current e-waste cost liabilities have nearly doubled recently which increasingly threatens the viable operation of responsible e-waste dismantlers and recyclers; especially SME sized recyclers. These are, naturally, more expensive in offering ethical and responsible collection and treatment services for all types of e-waste, compared to an increasing number of unscrupulous individuals who, literally, set up shop overnight without any formal business registration, standards of best practise, and/ or licences and permits. Typically, they also do not have any measures in place for the protection of the operating environment or the people who they pay to engage in illegal activities, such as vandalising and ripping open equipment and burning components to gain access to the valuable materials.

SAEWA, as an e-waste industry association representing the interests, and growing challenges, of responsible, and legally operating, e-waste recyclers to remain sustainable and economically viable, feels obliged to clearly voice industryrelated concerns to both Government and any industry stakeholders along the entire value chain who are responsible for creating,

What is EPR ?(Leadership SA #1 Award Winning Business Magazine) In the field of waste management, EPR promotes the inclusion of the environmental costs of goods, throughout the product life cycle, into the price of the goods. Thomas Lindhqvist, of Sweden, first introduced the concept in 1990. Soon after, EPR was officially defined as “an environmental protection strategy that holds manufacturers responsible for the entire life-cycle of a product, especially for take-back, recycling and final disposal”.

South Africa’s National Environmental Waste Act of 2008 has established EPR as a regulatory mechanism that is applied to “…instances in which the nature of the waste from products is of sufficient threat to require producers to take responsibility for aspects of the product’s management beyond point of sale”.

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Image 1: Suggested EPR Options as part of the National Pricing Strategy Waste Management Charges (DEA Industry Waste Management Forum, 2014) or adding to, this growing “liability problem” whilst educating the consumer about their part in responsible electronic and electrical goods consumption.

Using the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) principle to finance liabilities

While the EPR principle was introduced as a potentially powerful economic instrument in the original version of the National Environmental Management Waste Act (NEM: WA (59/2008)), the concept has, to date, not been fully exploited. The, recently introduced, National Environmental Management: Waste Amendment Act, 2014 (Act No. 26 of 2014), that came into force in June 2014, did not only provide much needed clarification on key definitions around waste activities (and when waste actually ceases to be considered “waste”), but also announced the establishment of two new key structures in the very near future—namely a Waste Bureau and a Pricing Strategy. The latter is not actually specifying the magnitude of any future waste charges that might be applicable for certain (priority) waste streams, but only provides guidance

with regards to the methodology on how such waste management charges can be set in order that they can be used to build a fund for the “disbursements of incentives for the minimisation, re-use, recycling and recovery of waste” (Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), 2014).

With regards to enforcing the EPR principle as one potential economic instrument, the DEA presented, in a workshop held on 6th of August 2014 with key industrial stakeholder groups, the following options for principle EPR schemes.

Government versus industry based EPR

It can be seen that a voluntary industry “fee” driven scheme is the alternative to a government imposed “tax”. The latter would go straight to the fiscus with no possibility to secure and ring-fence monies for the purpose of waste reduction, increased recycling and green job creation. It would be entirely at the discretion of the future DEA waste bureau to disburse any funds; that it would need to receive first from treasury itself. In the opinion of the author, a government imposed “tax” system offers little transparency and accountability, and,

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Image 2: Voluntary Industry Based IDEAL Enabling Mechanism of EPR given the dismal historical performance of the Buyisa e Bag SA scheme that operated with an imposed plastic bag levy, that has done very little to visibly improve and stimulate the actual recycling of plastic bags or benefit collectors or recyclers, government driven EPR should only be seen as a last resort where an industry is clearly unwilling or unable to solve their waste problem voluntarily through the introduction of a “fee”.

The industry based EPR fee model is, therefore, widely seen by the e-waste industry and all its stakeholders along the value chain (including brand owners, producers, importers, retailers, recyclers and SAEWA – as an industry association that represents the voice of many South(ern) African recyclers collectively), as the preferred model. Industry-motivated and executed EPR needs to be pursued and realised at all costs to work systematically towards a vision of zero e-waste going to landfill and to create a safety network to safely and comprehensively finance

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the responsible treatment of the current liabilities in e-waste. In that model, the DEA takes up a monitoring role and enables industry to solve the problem through the formation of a Product Responsibility Organisation (PRO) that should, for the sake of a comprehensive understanding and shared responsibility for the “producer role”, include key representatives along the entire value chain of electronic and electrical products. The model discussed below would ideally contain the following elements to fully unlock the power of EPR with regards to waste reduction, increased recycling and green job creation providing maximum benefits to SAEWA recyclers while being fair with regards to future EPR charges imposed on the “producer”.

As can be seen, “producers” would pay their contribution to an EPR fund based on their respective market share to an “e-Waste Control Body” that could take on the form of a PRO. The latter would then allocate funds that are sufficient to create a safety net for dealing with the problematic fractions that

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are currently the “liabilities” at the moment, often left behind to the detriment of the environment. By generating EPR fees, a powerful incentive is created as follows: Formal as well as “informal “collectors can then bring all types of e-waste they reclaim from various sources, including well-educated householders as endconsumers, to any recycler that has proven recycling standards, similar to the ones SAEWA requests from its members, that will satisfy the environmental, health and safety requirements from producers, and is, therefore, officially registered and accepted as a service provider in the EPR scheme.

While, at the moment, there is often a direct wrong financial incentive in place for collectors to cherry-pick in order to obtain the best price, and since only certain items have market value and can be sold on to a recycler, in future there will be no liabilities and any type of e-waste in any condition will be accepted by EPR scheme accredited recyclers. This means collectors will be much less motivated to engage in informal and illegal practices such as burning, trashing and dumping residues as everything can then be brought in; even the liabilities with at least some small financial incentive to the collector. The recycler will then be able to recover any direct treatment and disposal costs that he has currently to carry himself, threatening the financial viability of many recyclers from the outset, straight from the

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PRO. They can do this by simply proving responsible treatment of the problematic, liability-prone fractions took place and keeping a register with regards to the type and volume of e-waste thereof.

The “producer group”, on the other hand, will now have a direct motivation to find ways to keep the EPR fee for liabilities as low as possible, hence systematically creating an environment that promotes product innovation, replacement of materials that end up as “problematic fractions”, and by assisting to consolidate such fractions to create economies of scale that make recycling more viable than current landfilling. Global and local potential recycling markets, as well as innovative options for waste beneficiation models, will be fully unlocked by the responsible industry in order to turn current liabilities into “cost neutrals” and, ideally, even into “technical recycling nutrient” assets of clear and increasing financial value.

Conclusion

If done correctly, where an enabling, monitoring government is allowing the industry to voluntarily address and solve their waste issue, the introduction of an EPR fee will be the proverbial key to unlock a future that fully supports a “vision for zero waste” because the finances will be in place to honestly account for the real postconsumer product impact.

References • e-Waste Association of South Africa (eWASA). Author Alan Finlay 2008 • http://www.leadershiponline.co.za/articles/fortune-favours-the-prepared-10251.html • No. 37714 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 June 2014 Act No. 26 of 2014 National Environmental Management: Waste Amendment Act, 2014 • Steps Worldmap of e-Waste: http://step-initiative.org/index.php/Overview_South_Africa.html

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AN ALTERNATIVE PHILOSOPHY

Practical steps towards Zero Waste in South Africa

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Benoît Le Roy

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his short paper addresses only some of the pressing needs to adopt alternative, practical implementation philosophies when it comes to sustainable waste management practices. The aim being a reduction in the amount of unavoidable waste being transported great distances for, so-called, unsustainable treatment and disposal solutions.

South Africa finds itself with significant first world infrastructure whilst having a very large, third world exposure where 56.8% of the population are classified as poor . This, coupled with a total of 108 million tonnes of waste generated , with 59 million tons per annum of general waste, makes South Africa, potentially, a very unhealthy waste generator of around 1 kg per day (only of MSW) per person compared to the USA’s 2 kg per day per person. Despite the high levels of poverty, we, as a country, generate inordinate amounts of general waste and the volume is increasing as poverty alleviation efforts yield results. We will, therefore, at this per capita waste generation rate, overtake the USA’s very rapidly where the latter’s rate is reducing due to the current 35% recycling rate compared to SA’s 10%. To further increase the waste burden on our environment, we landfill some 90% of the general waste we generate.

It is also common knowledge that most of the unicity landfill sites are either full or not far from full, causing some consternation amongst city planners who are avidly looking at constructing more landfills and considering so-called W2E (Waste to Energy) alternatives. This is due to the considerable lobby from first world suppliers of these centralised, high capital investment systems that, by definition, generate new waste streams subsequent to their required APC (Air Pollution Control) abatement systems; merely shifting the

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waste along to a new physical form. When one considers the total life cycle costs of land filling, it usually exceeds that of energy recovery alternatives that are relatively high in upfront investments themselves.

So, both routes require major funding to establish and operate with significant carbon footprints.

The realities are that both of these traditional approaches are inappropriate in what is a changing demographic, coupled with ever-demanding sustainable infrastructure development that is simply beyond this country’s ability to finance in the long term. What is required is a philosophical mind set change to low carbon, low logistics, adaptability to waste characteristic variables and lower investment decentralised processing/ recovery systems. This will cater for what is currently classified as unavoidable waste.

The philosophy

Modern production principals dictate socalled economies of scale and have been adopted, without due regard to risks and a changing world, for the management of wastes as a general rule. An appropriate equivalent example is in the IT arena, where mainframes were very rapidly replaced by decentralised servers and PC’s. This should also apply to solid and liquid wastes such as waste water/sewage. Town planners, waste management companies and utilities are usually all trained to think in terms of economies of scale and, hence, create large centralised facilities, requiring significant logistics to bring waste to these facilities, that are, by virtue of their size, environmental risks and potential liabilities. The carbon footprint of such operations is inevitably large, suffers from the increasing cost of fuel (around 22% per annum currently) and adds to road congestion, causing delays and

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economic losses. This is not necessarily the most effective way of approaching waste management.

There are currently unavoidable wastes that will require sustainable collection, treatment/recovery/reuse until such time as these wastes have been significantly reduced. This is more than a generation away for our country as the so-called first world economies are only moving in this direction in decade-long initiatives. This short paper demonstrates two, one hazardous and the other not, of the currently unavoidable waste streams that can be more effectively, sustainably and cheaply managed with an alternative philosophical approach.

Waste stream 1: Health Care Risk Waste (HCRW)

HCRW is generated as a consequence of various healthcare procedures and, thus, arguably currently inevitable. The volumes generated are also increasing with the increasing use of disposable versus reusable implements, making waste reductions/ avoidance currently impractical.

The volume of HCRW generated in 2012 was reported at 46,291 tons per annum.

Whether this is accurate or not, the point is that it’s less than 0,04% of the total waste generated in SA. However, this relatively small volume of hazardous waste has the potential to cause serious problems if not adequately managed. The current global and SA trend is to containerise and transport the waste to centralised treatment and disposal facilities, whilst tracking the waste container’s movements, then burning it until only ash is left using, inherently expensive to run, incinerators. Consequently, this ash must be disposed of at a hazardous waste landfill site to which it must be transported.

The significant costs and carbon footprint add to the risk management of such an

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antiquated approach. There has been a trend in North America to convert thermal destruction facilities (incinerators) to nonthermal systems such as autoclaves, without addressing the logistical or subsequent landfill issues, to appease the anti-thermal lobby to an extent.

HCRW is voluminous, 100 kg/mÂł on average, which makes containerisation and transport of the large volumes expensive.

It is, therefore, a priority to not only reduce the volume of HCRW, but also to reduce its movement to treatment and disposal facilities, and to avoid landfilling and/or incinerating the eventual residues produced.

Various well-proven, and generally accepted, technologies exist to not only reduce the volume to be treated, but to do so onsite. These technologies are not only non-thermal; they are also far cheaper to operate. This is due to the miniaturisation of integrated non-thermal technologies that has led to very competitive, and effective, total life cycle costs whilst avoiding the transport of voluminous waste.

The resultant residue is around 65% to 80% of the original waste volume and, generally, has a calorific value of between 20 MJ/kg to 30 MJ/kg. This is equivalent to coal and, hence, demonstrates its embedded energy that, to date, has either been used to combust it in the incineration process or simply placed in landfill to, hopefully, biodegrade in time. This waste is ideal as an RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel) or can be subjected to processes that can convert it to gaseous and liquid fuels for use either on site or off site. This results in further significant lowering of the total cost of treatment.

Waste stream 2: Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)

MSW is on the increase per capita in SA as population grows and poverty alleviation

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program effects come through. It is going to be at least a generation plus before the fact that such waste is generated is changed and, hence, the most appropriate decentralised processing of waste needs to be adopted as a philosophy for similar reasons to the HCRW situation. MSW is also voluminous in nature, anywhere from 100 to 500 kg/m³, where anywhere from 40% to 90% is moisture. This clearly shows that transporting MSW is transporting air and water unnecessarily.

The waste characteristics that we see today are also subject to major change due to consumer behaviour changes and recycling. High calorific value wastes, such as plastics, eventually find themselves being recycled due to their increasing value. This, in turn, affects the capacity of thermal plants such as incinerators, gasifiers and pyrolisers as they are dependent on the higher calorific value waste components to avoid external fuel usage. Some of the Scandinavian countries have already experienced this and are importing MSW from the UK, Ireland and Norway to satisfy their thermal waste treatment plant overcapacity. In SA, we need to avoid this happening as the eventual shortfall in higher energy MSW will result in higher running costs, due to fuel usage increase to combust the lower energy waste. This is a lesson we can learn from Europe before subjecting ourselves to a similar fate that we cannot afford.

So, the solutions must accept that transporting waste long distances is unsustainably expensive, that its characteristics will, in time, change markedly due to dynamics such as increase recycling, and that decentralised non-thermal solutions will yield the most economical and sustainable results. This, by definition, means that recyclables should be separated at source, which is the waste generator at home, whilst the balance of the so-called

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“black bag” waste should be collected and processed in a location within a few kilometres of the waste generators. What won’t be in the black bag? No plastic, steel, aluminium, paper, cardboard or glass.

What will be in it? Scraps of food, minimal garden waste and used cloths; all of which contain moisture and are all, generally, biodegradable. In SA, the volume of this waste would, using 2012 data, be around 11 million tons per annum, or some 19%, of the original waste volume currently being sent to landfill. This can be classified as the current unavoidable waste generated by households which is a mere 0,6 kg per person per day.

It should be practical for us to implement the segregation of waste within a decade by merely refusing to collect non-black bag waste. Recyclables, which would be collected by recyclers as the value of commodities, should continue in their tradable values, and black bag collection for processing within a suburb should be changed to every second or third week only; the determining factor here is seasonal ambient temperatures and associated sanitation considerations. The black bag waste could be either aerobically or anaerobically (non-thermally) processed on a suburban basis with the consequent energy either harvested as RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel) or as biogas respectively for use in that suburb and its inevitable green spaces. The residues generated by aerobic processing could be as low as 5% of the 0,6 kg per person or 30 grams per day which is a paltry 11 kg per annum per capita.

Anaerobic processing, on the other hand, would produce biogas as an energy source and a liquid residue, or digestate, for use in suburban parks.

Conclusion

A philosophical step change is required in South Africa to effectively move up the

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waste hierarchy and, in time, as the process is an incremental one, develop a more circular economy with consequent carbon footprint reductions. The two examples given in this short paper are compressed snap shots only to demonstrate the principals that can be used in most of the other waste generating

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sectors. In South Africa, we have the benefit of the developed world’s experiences and the ability to adapt selected and proven technologies to the next generation of low carbon and decentralised sustainable waste management practices customised for our country’s dynamics.

References • Poverty percentage by Statistics SA http://beta2.statssa.gov.za/?page_id=739&id=1 • UrbanEARTH South African Waste Snapshot January 2013 http://urbanearth.co.za/ebooks/ sa-waste-snapshot-2013 • MSW generation, recycling and disposal in the USA http://www.epa.gov/osw/nonhaz/municipal/ pubs/2012_msw_fs.pdf • UrbanEARTH South African Waste Snapshot January 2013 http://urbanearth.co.za/ebooks/ sa-waste-snapshot-2013 • UrbanEARTH South African Waste Snapshot January 2013 http://urbanearth.co.za/ebooks/ sa-waste-snapshot-2013 • UrbanEARTH South African Waste Snapshot January 2013 http://urbanearth.co.za/ebooks/ sa-waste-snapshot-2013 • http://sawic.environment.gov.za/documents/1732.pdf • http://www.trueactivist.com/sweden-runs-out-of-garbage/ • http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/30/world/europe/oslo-copes-with-shortage-of-garbage-it-turns-intoenergy.html?_r=0 • http://www.midwestenergynews.com/2013/10/17/is-burning-garbage-green-in-sweden-theres-littledebate/ • http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/recycling/blogs/sweden-runs-out-of-garbage-forced-to-import-fromnorway • http://www.infrastructurene.ws/2013/05/20/a-challenging-context/

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BARRIERS TO IMPROVING RECLAMATION RATES Improving and Formalising Recycling in South Africa

CJ Liebenberg

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   he volumes of waste being generated, and which must be collected and disposed of, is requiring everincreasing funds to manage it and is creating increasing environmental concerns. This is due to large landfill sites, which are not properly operated, and are causing major pollution. Any possible method of saving on the quantity of waste going to landfill must be implemented. In South Africa, reclamation of recyclable waste products, or re-usable items from the municipal waste stream, has become an important source of revenue for many people who cannot find formal employment. It has been estimated that, in South Africa, about 150 000 people make a direct living from the various components of the process of reclamation of recyclable waste.

There are, however, a number of barriers to improving, or formalising, this process and a number of these barriers have been identified. Various potential solutions are proposed below to improve the recovery rates, as well as the income stream, for the individuals involved in the reclamation industry.

In South Africa in general, reclamation is done by the informal sector in a very unorganised manner and is mainly done by very poor, unemployed, people who are striving to improve their way of life. These people get a small income by scavenging, firstly, usable items such as containers for storage of household items, material to construct shelters with, clothing, etc or food, and, secondly, items that have a recyclable value and can be sold to recyclers.

Due to the large quantities of recyclable materials arriving in the waste at landfill sites, informal salvaging, also known

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as scavenging, on the landfill sites is widespread. This practice obviously creates a situation of unacceptable health and safety risks for the reclaimers, as well as operating problems for landfill managers. It must be noted that the term reclamation is used for the process of picking (salvaging or scavenging), or collecting, recyclable materials, while the term recycling refers to the processing or remanufacturing of the reclaimed material into a useful item or base material to be used in various manufacturing processes.

If one considers the composition of typical municipal waste streams, the potential for recycling is evident from the above waste analysis. One of the biggest components of waste going to landfills are organic materials that should be converted, by processing, to compost and then returned to the earth, as a soil conditioner or fertiliser, and not disposed of at expensive landfills.

The remaining total waste stream to landfill can further be lowered, on average, by approximately 18% through reclamation of recyclable materials. It must be noted that, in the large cities, the current informal sector already removes about 12%, so the remaining gains will be less.

By reducing the volumes of waste, by composting and recycling, the airspace savings at the landfills enables an extension of the life span of the landfills, as well as an obvious saving in operational costs.

This is a very important factor that should be taken into account when assessing the advantages of reclamation. Unfortunately, most local authorities do not want to see it in this light since it creates a significant cost-saving in the future and only a limited immediate saving. A municipality should not be in the business of recycling, as it is

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generally not financially feasible if done on a sophisticated level. With the high cost of municipal employees, the municipality can rather use its developmental initiatives (small business support, etc) to make it possible for community-based organisations, or small businesses, to extract the value contained in the recyclable materials. A popular subject at the moment is to look at source seperation in towns, but it must be noted that it will not be financially feasible and will have to be subsidised from other rates and taxes, as is being done in a number of municipalities at present, but it is not a sound financial decision.

Although the general aspects on recycling have been mentioned above, there are a number of barriers to improving recycling in a country such as ours. One of the foremost factors, in respect of poor reclamation for recycling, is general ignorance as to the potential value of waste materials. In very poor communities, in rural areas, there is also, normally, a substantial shortage of entrepreneurial skills and lack of drive to develop potential marketable items from waste products. Because the recycling industry is still in its infancy, compared to the manufacturing industry, the compensation for recyclable materials fluctuates a lot. As a result of this, reclaimers may move into collecting, say, paper when the buy-in price of paper by recyclers increases, and you will find a number of new entrants to the market. The law of supply and demand is, however, very evident and, as soon as the supply of reclaimed paper exceeds demand, the price then drops significantly, with a resulting drop in income of the reclaimers and resulting in negative social problems.

Another fact that is evident from the young

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and very informal recycling industry, is that the market is very unstable due to over and under supply.

Another reality which must be faced, in a large country like South Africa with large areas of low population density, is that there is a very limited market for recyclables in the rural areas. There may not be enough material to establish a local recycling plant, or, alternatively, the cost of transport destroys the financial feasibility of buying from reclaimers and transporting over long distances. This is especially evident as far as plastic bottles and containers are concerned, as the very low density makes it very expensive to transport long distances.

It is also a fact that, in a number of rural areas, the market is just not aware of the potential value of reclaimed materials. It also happens that there is just no manufacturer in our country who can use some specific reclaimed materials with an international recycling value. In answering the question of “what can be done to improve the situation�, a number of actions are hereby suggested which can be undertaken by the various levels of government, donor support programs or non governmental organisations (NGOs) to assist in improving the situation.

Foster public education and involvement

One of the first aspects where government can play an important role, is by improving the awareness of the potential value of recyclable materials amongst our people. In order to do this effectively, the officials need to be fully informed about the total recycling process. International support in this regard can play an important role in building this capacity as well as providing technical

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assistance in awareness-raising programs.

A well-planned public education and awareness program will foster participation in recycling. Public participation in recycling programs is one of the most important factors in deciding a program’s success.

The entire program must be designed to maximise participation. This involves making participation as convenient as possible for residents and businesses. An integrated, comprehensive public outreach program will be one of the keys to a recycling program’s success. The public must know the importance of recycling, the nature of the local waste stream problem, and how they can get involved. Procedures for curb-side and drop-off programs will have to be publicised, and participation and materials recovery rates will have to be monitored.

Establishing outlets to receive reclaimed materials

One of the most difficult, yet fundamentally important, tasks decision-makers must deal with is finding an outlet for the recyclable materials collected. Identifying markets, securing agreements with material brokers and end-users and meeting buyer specifications are all part of this task.

Recycling programs must be designed with the flexibility of handling fluctuating markets and uncertain outlets for materials.

Consequently, market analysis will be both a planning and on-going activity as even the most successful recycling programs can be severely affected by market oscillations.

Investigate ways increasing the use of waste products, and distributing it to interested parties

Decision makers can also play an important role in recycling by working to build local

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markets for recyclables in the community.

This can be done by encouraging businesses and industries that use recycled materials to come to your community, or by expanding the local use of recyclables that is already taking place. These businesses will provide a reliable market for recyclables and increase jobs.

Investigate ways to improve the recyclability of materials

In this regard it can be said that the packaging industry is very ingenious in developing new and better packaging materials from a strength, cost and practical utilisation point of view, but, in many cases, still with total disregard for the recyclability of the material.

For example, many new packaging materials consist of totally different types of material fused or bonded together, which makes it totally unsuitable for recycling as the materials cannot be separated. A recent success story is where an effective recycling process was developed for Tetrapak milk and juice cartons which consist of a complex combination of totally different materials.

Creating financial stability in the recycling market

It will assist the whole reclamation process significantly if it were possible to stabilise the recyclable material markets financially. This can be done by government intervention, either by subsidising the price of the reclaimed materials, or by setting up a market instrument whereby prices will be stabilised. This could be done by buying material in at a profit, when resale values are high, and then subsidising it when the value goes down (equalisation fund). In general, this may not be popular with governments

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and it may also create a fund that can be abused like the plastic bag levy.

Involving the manufacturing sector

Governments can play an active role in involving the manufacturing, or import, industries by creating a forum whereby industries are invited to come to the table with suggestions as to solutions to the above problems.

Industry has proved that they can be very clever in developing solutions to improving packaging, so they should be able to assist greatly in alleviating the problems in recycling. In general, they also have the financial means to assist with the implementation of any interventions.

Legislative interventions by Government

A solution that is always a possibility, although not always very popular in the modern world, is for Government to pass legislations or regulations to limit non-recyclable packaging material being produced and sold by the manufacturing sector producing and using packaging materials. For example, Germany has extensive regulations in place in this regard.

Green procurement policies

Governments can also lead the way in propagating recycling by adopting green procurement policies, which will entice the industry to adapt to it very quickly.

This means that procurement policies are adapted to specify that all products offered to government must be accompanied by certification as to the recyclability of any product offerred.

Green procurement also includes other environmental requirements of the

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product manufacturing cycle of the product offerred, and that must not be neglected.

As soon as industries see that government procurement, which in most cases are a major purchaser of products in a developing country, are placing great importance on this, they will take note and start attending to the problem.

Assistance by NGOs or donor support

Although the above interventions are mentioned as actions that can be undertaken by government, it is also a fact that our government are faced with massive infrastructure and social problems. They may not have the time, funds or political support to attend to these types of problems, or they may simply not have the will to address recycling.

Donor aid programs and NGOs can, however, play an important part in assisting in this regard.

Composting

Home composting of all organic materials should be promoted and used in the home garden to improve the soil and production of any vegetables or fruit, but it may also be possible to produce compost on a commercial basis at the community level.

It has been shown that there are a number of interventions that can significantly improve recycling rates and create a number of additional employment opportunities. These solutions need not even be sophisticated or high-tech.

The one point that is, however, very important to take note of is that, in order to significantly improve recycling rates, all spheres of Government, with support from the International Community, will have to play an active role in this regard.

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EXPLORING WASTE TO ENERGY Resource Efficiency in a Circular Loop System

Incinerator plant in Germany

Helga Dietrich

Gas from landfill

Plasma converter

WASTE TO ENERGY

Z

5

ero waste is about driving resource efficiency and reclaiming materials in a circular loop system, but the problem is that materials are not being separated and rechanneled away from landfill sites quickly enough and not all materials are recyclable, a consequence of which is that landfills are filling up fast, with little or no new sites being planned.

As such exploring Waste to Energy has to be part of the discussion. The big questions are—is there an ecologically efficient, nontoxic waste to energy solution; can we implement it in such a way that its development does not undermine the primary waste minimising objectives by competing with materials recovery for feedstock; can we view waste to energy as a circular system?

Waste to energy solutions destroy resources that could otherwise be easily recycled, with large investments potentially having the effect of disincentivising recycling schemes and schemes to compost organic household waste at a municipal level.

This is because the high costs of setting up the plant needs to be offset through long term contracts with municipal authorities to burn local waste, and in some cases waste has to be imported from other regions to augment the energy objective.

The output capacity of waste to energy plants is a function of the calorific value of the feedstock and when run in conjunction with recycling initiatives, the calorific value of the feedstock may diminish as materials recovery increases, so there is inherent competition between approaches. The problem being that it is perceived to be easier to destroy something than it is to recover it.

On the project finance side there are two financing models commonly used for Waste to Energy facilities such as Incinerators:

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THE VISION ZERO WASTE HANDBOOK

• Privately owned and operated projects require a guaranteed flow of waste and set tip fee. The owner is guaranteed revenue to cover capital and operating costs and profits, with a fixed amount of waste or a cash penalty. “Put or pay” contracts involve communities supplying waste or paying a penalty for the life of the thermal facility - about 20 years or more.

• Public ownership is when a municipality or a group of municipalities raise the funds to finance the capital investment.

Governments may issue bonds for lowcost financing, or can increase taxes to generate project financing. Public ownership does not involve put-or-pay commitments, but still requires that the facility receive waste with reasonable energy content on a consistent basis for the 20-year term.

The feasibility of Wastes to Energy plants should also be questioned—there are countless case studies of communities around the world whose incineration projects for example, have landed them in significant debt as a result of insufficient waste generation, insufficient calorific content in the waste, surpassing allowable emission limits, and/or unplanned mechanical failures that required additional cost investments

A review of Waste to Energy options

Gas from landfills (produces land fill gas – not methane) This is a dead duck—even closed and sealed sites continue to pose a threat.

Methane gas extraction is a good practice and is working—but these sites continue to be a breeding ground for bacteria and disease, with the ever present danger of pollution and contamination of soils and

5

ground water. Even years later when new residential areas or industrial compounds have been developed on old landfill sites, residents and workers have fallen ill (see e.g. Maccasar in the Western Cape). Some of these developments still exist and residents continue to suffer—other developments have been abandoned. Eventually landfill sites will have to be emptied..

Something not publicised is that landfill gas is only about 40-60% methane, with the remainder being mostly carbon dioxide (CO2). Landfill gas also contains varying amounts of nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor, sulfur and a hundreds of other contaminants—most of which are known as “non-methane organic compounds” or NMOCs. Inorganic contaminants like mercury are also known to be present in landfill gas. Sometimes, even radioactive contaminants such as tritium (radioactive hydrogen) have been found in landfill gas (according to energyjustice.net).

Continuing the landfill paradigm is not a sustainable option.

Thermal technologies

Incineration (produces heat) Surely the most common technology for converting Waste to Energy (Germany for example has hundreds of incinerators in operation).

Advantages • Perhaps the primary advantage of using incinerators would have to be the significant impact they have on reducing the amount of waste going to landfill.

• Many incinerators reach temperatures that destroy most harmful pathogens and chemicals, which is why this method is used for dealing with clinical waste.

• In addition to reducing waste volumes, incineration of domestic and industrial waste creates heat that can be used to

WASTE TO ENERGY

produce electricity or can be piped to municipal heating schemes. Modern incinerator technology is able to filter out many of the potential harmful emissions in the hot rising flue avoiding their escape into the outside environment, including various dioxins, particulates and some environmentally dangerous acidic gases like hydrogen chloride.

• Incineration has many benefits for treatment of certain waste types in niche areas and certain hazardous wastes where pathogens and toxins can be destroyed by high temperatures.

• Incinerators can also be located on site in the case of hospitals, or at the outskirts of towns for general waste, reducing transportation costs.

Disadvantages • A key problem with incinerated waste is what to do with the resultant ash that is collected, part of which contains a significant proportion of toxins such as heavy metals. In this ash form, if they are not dealt with correctly and sealed into water tight containers, they can leach into the surrounding environment and cause both health and environmental problems as a result of toxicity at increased levels.

• The location of an incinerator is often very controversial however and most residents do not want one situated near them. The problems they can bring include increased traffic to an area, due to waste vehicles carrying waste for processing to the incinerator plant, a problem made worse if waste is imported from other regions. This in itself is associated with unpleasant smells and an adverse effect on local land and house prices. This latter effect could just be perception, but who wants to relocate to an area that has a waste incinerator

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WASTE TO ENERGY

5

nearby? So incinerator locations are often very restricted and plans for new ones can become political hot potatoes.

• Even though modern incinerators use filters and processes to remove many of the harmful particulates and toxins from the hot flue exhaust gases produced as a result of the incineration process, they still do not filter out the smallest particles.

These particles could cause health problems in areas that are exposed to their emissions downwind, with ongoing research seeking to establish the exact effects. Many of these tiny particles do not have any air quality standards or regulations attached to them which basically gives incinerator companies freedom to emit without consequence.

Pollutants can still escape the system into the air resulting in toxic heavy metals like Cadmium being dispersed into surrounding ground and water environments. Dioxins can escape and these compounds can be carcinogenic and have other detrimental effects on human health. (extracts from Ecoants) • Capital, maintenance and operational costs of waste incineration plants are very high and vary depending on a wide range of factors, especially the size (capacity) of the plant—the number of metric tons per year and on the calorific value of the waste. Low-capacity plants are relatively more expensive than highcapacity plants where the cost per metric ton of capacity diminishes. For charts on investment and costs etc. please go to: http://web.mit.edu/urbanupgrading/ urbanenvironment/resources/ references/pdfs/MunicipalSWIncin.pdf • The municipality is also accountable for financing on-going operations of incinerators, and the importing natural

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gas for start-up and shut-downs, as well as making capital cost repayments.

Pyrolysis (produces combustible tar/ bio-oil and chars) The word Pyrolysis means ‘chemical change brought about by heat’, and was first proposed in 1958. It took another 30 years before a way of extracting the gas to a central point of evacuation was developed, and even longer before a workable solution was found on an oxygen-free basis in a high temperature environment. Within the retort of between 0.05% to a maximum 2.5% oxygen and upwards of 2250 degrees F, destruction of 99.999984 percent of any organic toxic or nontoxic feedstock results.

Pyrolysis has proven to be a troublesome technology however, and to this day most Pyrolysis undertakings have been unsuccessful, due in part to their enormous energy consumption. But Pyrolysis plants also have other problems—they require an enormous additional investment to convert the oil output to Diesel or similar functional fuel. In addition, and possibly one of the biggest problems is the horrendous odour that occurs from the process—so appalling that on-going operations or transportation of the oil can became intolerable to either workers or neighbours.

There seems to be a continuous stream of companies claiming to have solved all these problems, but prudence dictates that one should be certain about these issues before committing to a major production plant.

Combustion (produces heat) Combustion is a chemical reaction that involves the burning of an organic material in the presence of oxygen, releasing heat and energy. There are various examples

5

of combustion—a pile of wood burning in a camp fire is actually an example of a combustion reaction. Oxygen is consumed and carbon dioxide is produced, which is why carbon dioxide inhalation is one of the main dangers for people trapped in a fire.

When fossil fuels (such as the gasoline that fuels most cars) are used to create energy, the process creates a combustion reaction. That’s why car exhaust is so bad for the environment: it’s mostly made of carbon dioxide, which is the by-product of combustion reactions.

Thermal depolymerisation (produces synthetic crude oil) Outputs can be further refined but many argue that the process is too expensive.

Others argue that the concept uses large quantities of energy to work at all, so efficiency is highly questionable. Like Pyrolysis the operation of these plants creates a noxious odour, resulting in lawsuits following the first operational plant in Carthage, USA. The plant was subsequently shut–down by the authorities and finally bought over, but future plans have yet to be disclosed.

Catalytic Depolymerisation (produces clean Diesel) The diesel produced is considered ‘clean’ according to ASTM and EU Regulations DIN590. However only certain types of waste can be used as feed stock such as plastics and high cellulose organic matter e.g. coconut shells, but the outcome is absolutely clean Diesel or Kerosene and research and development is continuing to explore additional viable feedstocks.

One can commission different size plants, for examples, a 1000l Diesel/hr plant produces 8 million litres year, and

WASTE TO ENERGY

the larger the plant the lower the relative investment, as production costs per litre of Diesel decreases as you scale up the plant.

The plants come ex Germany, and indicative numbers are as follows: • 300t plastic can be converted into approximately 195t of Diesel + 10% side product • 300t waste oil result in approximately 225t of Diesel + NB Plasma Converter System: (produces Plasma Converted Gas (PCG), obsidian-like silicates, recyclable metals and water) According to its Swiss/ USA technology developers, the Plasma Converter System (PCS) safely and effectively destroys all waste streams no matter how hazardous, toxic or lethal they may be. It is not enough to destroy hazardous waste; hazardous waste must be destroyed irreversibly. The technology is certified safe and compliant by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and by the EU. Plasma gasification is a process which uses a plasma torch powered by an electric arc to ionize gas and catalyse organic matter into synthetic gas, solid waste (slag), and water.

It is used commercially as a form of waste treatment and has been tested for gasification of biomass and solid hydrocarbons, such as coal, oil sands, and oil shale.

FEEDSTOCK: The feedstock for plasma waste treatment is most often municipal solid waste, organic waste, or both.

Feedstocks may also include biomedical waste and hazmat materials.

YIELDS: Pure highly calorific Synthetic Gas consists predominantly of Carbon Monoxide (CO), H2, CH, among other components.

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5

The conversion rate of plasma gasification exceeds 99%. Plasma processing of waste can therefore be regarded as ecologically clean. The lack of oxygen in the process and the incredibly high temperatures in the reactor prevent the main components of the gas from forming toxic compounds such as furans, dioxins, nitrogen oxides, or sulphur dioxide. Water filtration removes ash and gaseous pollutants. The production of ecologically clean synthetic gas is achieved—Plasma Converter Gas (PCG).

PCG contains no phenols or complex hydrocarbons, and if emitted has no negative environmental impacts, but of course this would be a waste as the gas is also a store of chemical energy and can be used as a clean fuel to produce electricity; heat and cool facilities; produce fresh water; and power fuel cells.

Other commodity products produced will depend on the nature of the waste processed, and are melted and “poured off” as glassy obsidian-like silicate compounds or metals. Metals can be recovered and the non-toxic silicates can be used in a variety of applications such as abrasives or in construction. Volume reduction from feedstock to inert materials is 300:1.

A portion of the syngas produced feeds on-site turbines, which power the plasma torches and thus support the feed system, and depending on the calorific value of

WASTE TO ENERGY

the feedstocks being processed, the PCS is capable of producing between four and ten units of clean energy for every unit consumed in operation.

In addition to these significant benefits in respect of waste to energy, the Plasma Conversion System also produces pure water, and can be used to purify toxic liquid waste such as black water, rendering it usable for industry and irrigation (as nutrients are retained), and in some cases can elevate the quality to drinking water.

Conclusion

Due to incineration becoming synonymous with Waste to Energy, this practice has earned a bad reputation, with heavily toxic emissions, high capital and operational costs raising profound concerns. In addition Waste to Energy as a strategy competes with recycling for materials, but this is a narrow view. As expressed already, waste streams are flowing into landfill sites worldwide bringing out their unique set of horrors, and markets are not acting quickly enough to alter materials and product assembly.

It would appear that through technologies such as Catalytic Depolymerisation and Plasma Conversion Systems, the opportunity is emerging to begin to view Waste to Energy differently —as a parallel approach that can ultimately and actually lead us to world of zero waste.

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WASTEWATER TREATMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Dr. Herman Wiechers

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S

outh Africa has approximately 900 municipal wastewater treatment works. These vary from very large (50 -150 Ml/d), to medium sized (1-50 Ml/d) to small (100 – 1,000m3/d). The quality of treatment and the resulting quality of the treated effluent varies from excellent, to good, to poor, to atrocious. Since the final effluent ends up in the water environment, be it a stream, a river, a dam, an impoundment or into the ground water, it has an impact. Because South Africa is a water scarce country, every care should be taken to ensure that these limited receiving water resources are not polluted.

South Africans should go the extra mile to purify and preserve the effluent resource.

Today’s effluent is tomorrow’s drinking water. Hence the authorities, the effluent generators, the municipalities and the receiving environment custodians, should all work together to protect and preserve this precious resource.

The South African Government and in particular the Minister of Water Affairs is well aware of the problem, and have put various policies and strategies into place to address this problem. However, the man in the street is less aware and concerned, and some unscrupulous industries do not play the game. Hence, much stricter action needs to be taken, and severe pollution of the environment should be classified as a criminal offence, with dire consequences.

More prominence needs to be given to this topic in the public media, at schools and universities, and by NGOs. Higher budgets need to be allocated to counter this pollution threat.

Status quo of wastewater treatment in South Africa

The status quo of sanitation service and wastewater treatment works in South Africa are of concern (Suzan Oelofse, CSIR, 2010).

Wastewater management services, together

WASTEWATER TREATMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA

with the way in which these services are rendered and maintained, lie at the heart of the pollution of South Africa’s water resources (DWAF, 2001). An estimated 8.3% of households in South Africa still have no toilet facility or are using the bucket system (Statistics South Africa, 2007).

Snyman et al. (2006) estimated that in the order of 96% of micro-, small- and medium-sized wastewater treatment plants in South Africa are not adequately operated and maintained. Municipalities are therefore faced with a number of challenges regarding the provision of complete and effective sanitation services. Inadequate disposal and use of wastewater sludge was found at 81% of the sewage plants surveyed.

The sampled wastewater treatment works (WWTW) are indicated with red squares on the map shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Capacity of municipalities to provide wastewater treatment services (Snyman et al., 2006).

According to South African legislation (Republic of South Africa, 1996) sanitation services are the mandate of municipalities.

However, there is an increasing trend of poor service delivery in this regard. The 2007/2008 municipal capacity assessments showed that 37% of the 231 local municipalities had no capacity to perform THE VISION ZERO WASTE HANDBOOK

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WASTEWATER TREATMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA

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their sanitation functions (Municipal Demarcation Board, 2008). One of the key challenges faced by local municipalities in South Africa is therefore the need to find the most effective and efficient way of delivering adequate sanitation services to communities (Lorenz, 2003), within the local constraints. Numerous obstacles—such as budget restrictions, service backlogs and insufficient skills development—prevent local municipalities from providing services (DEAT, 2007).

Wastewater facilities that do not comply to existing licenses should be prosecuted.

The current high level of non-compliant municipal wastewater treatment facilities (Snyman et al., 2006) is a case in point which may be viewed as leniency towards municipalities. In addition, the current situation has the potential to create dual standards in the management and operation of public and private facilities in South Africa.

Wastewater technology choices compromise quality

In many small towns, municipalities have revenue bases that are not sufficient to cover the costs of operation and maintenance of their wastewater treatment facilities. The findings from a Water Research Commission study done in partnership with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) indicates that 44% of the studied wastewater treatment plants may have opted for less (Saving Water SA, 2011). According to the latest Green Drop Report (Saving Water SA, 2011), less than half of South Africa’s 821 sewage works are treating the effluent they receive to safe and acceptable standards.

The Green Drop Report which presents the state of wastewater treatment plants in in South Africa, states that while Green Drop status was awarded to 40 plants, up from 33 in 2009, it warns that another 460 plants

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(56 percent) are either in a “critical state” or delivering a “very poor performance”.

It should further be noted that the report does not cover treatment works owned by public works, such as those at prisons, and other private operators. Many of the poorly performing plants are located in the country’s poorer provinces, including the Eastern Cape, Free State, Northern Cape and Limpopo. The report states that: “The Western Cape, followed by KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, are producing the highperforming waste water systems; Eastern Cape, followed by Free State, Northern Cape and Limpopo, are producing the bulk of the systems that are in critical and poorperforming positions.”

Inspection of wastewater treatment works

One of the key requirement for ensuring the proper and efficient operation of wastewater treatment works is their regular inspection. A useful publication to assist wastewater treatment works operators is the Water Research Commission’s Guideline for the Inspection of Wastewater Treatment Works (2009). This guideline document deals with the requirements for undertaking an inspection at a wastewater treatment works (WWTW). It assists the Process Controller to: • Prepare for an inspection at the WWTW; • Take corrective action where a problem is identified; Furthermore it also assists the Inspector to: • Undertake an inspection at a WWTW; • Give guidance where a problem is identified.

The Guideline provides checklists for those unit processes that are most frequently encountered at South African WWTWs. Furthermore, a list of proposed additional reading material that every WWTW should have on site is provided.

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WASTEWATER TREATMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA

Figure 1. Wastewater Treatment Works Checklists http://www.wrc.org.za/Knowledge%20 Hub%20Documents/Research%20Reports/TT-375-08.pdf

References Boyd LA and Mbelu AM (2009) Guideline for the Inspection of Wastewater Treatment Works, WRC Report No TT 375/08, January 2009 CSIR (2010) A CSIR Perspective on Water in South Africa 2010, CSIR Report No. CSIR/NRE/PW/IR/ 2011/0012/A, Compiled by: Suzan Oelofse and Wilma Strydom, CSIR Natural Resources and the Environment DEAT (2007) Assessment of the Status of Waste Service Delivery and Capacity at the Local Government Level, Draft 3, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Pretoria, South Africa, August 2007 DWAF (2001) Managing the Water Quality Effects of Settlements: Legal Considerations for Managing Pollution from Settlements, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry: Pretoria, South Africa Lorenz, M (2003) Activity Completion Report MCBF Activity 7.1.3. Project for Building Service Delivery Capacity. Free State, DC16, Xhariep Municipality. p. 65 Municipal Demarcation Board (2008) National Report on Local Government Capacity: District and Local Municipalities. MDB Capacity Assessment Period 2007/2008. [Online]. Available: http:// www. demarcation.org.za/powers/functions2007/index_new.html, 20 August 2008 Saving Water SA (2011) Posted by: Saving Water SA (Cape Town, South Africa) – partnered with Water Rhapsody conservation systems, 01 July 2011), http://www.savingwater.co.za/tag/ wastewater-treatment-plants/) Snyman, H.G., Van Niekerk, A.M. and Rajasakran, N. (2006) Sustainable Wastewater Treatment – What Has Gone Wrong and How Do We Get Back on Track; in the 2006 Proceedings of the Water Institute of South Africa (WISA) Conference, Durban, 21-25 May 2006.

Statistics South Africa (2007) General Household Survey 2007: Statistical Release P0318; Online Available: www.statssa.gov.za THE VISION ZERO WASTE HANDBOOK

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BUSINESS WASTE VALUE

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BUSINESS WASTE VALUE Linear vs Circular

Angus Ryan

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BUSINESS WASTE VALUE

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BUSINESS WASTE VALUE

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What is the Real value, or cost, of waste to a business?

The Process of Waste

To apply this concept to your business in practical terms, the following points should be considered in an effort to fully understand the true impact of waste: • Cost of waste- What you are currently paying, and the losses to the profit currently understood • Value of waste- The hidden benefits of lowering costs, and possible returns

Obtaining a transparent and detailed understanding of the costs and drivers that underpin total waste cost to your business is an imperative first step towards testing feasibility on cost of waste vs value of recycling, or other suitable alternatives.

In the scope of an operational context, waste is often viewed as a by-product which intrinsically creates a linear perception of its presence in the operational cycle. By introducing accurate Business Intelligence data, this stance is easily refuted by evidence to reveal that the presence of waste is, in fact, circular! The restrictive linear view is largely driven by its treatment as a pure production cost. This cost approach tends to limit the full impact and presence of waste.

However, when considering the following characteristics, the circular nature begins to become more evident: • The cost is repeated in the daily process • Cost is compounded by the repetition of the process throughout the year • Cost is affected by other areas of the business, such as energy, labour and time

In order to answer these questions effectively, a full interrogation of the waste process and the data used to manage and measure the business is required. Through realising true cost and value to the business, one is able to transform from desiring to be a sustainable business into one which has the capacity to be “re-generative”. This vision makes business sense when considering that to sustain is to exist, but to be regenerated is to grow!

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In order to gain the necessary insight into process of waste, consider the following questions on a surface level: What is waste to your organisation?

• Is it simply the rubbish in the bin at the “start of the night” – the author is tired of the expression “at the end of the day” • Is it the raw material used?

• Is it time that is wasted in the business process?

• Is it energy use? – For creating waste!

Think about this one for a second!!

• Is it the cost of man-power handling / labour for the process?

• Is it contractor transport and disposal costs?

• Is it intangible risk costs – compliance, reputation, community • Consider Stakeholders whom may be affected

Scenario A Gofer Manufacturing produces B2B products for packaging. They purchase 1 000 tons of raw material for the manufacturing process.

This is valued at R20 000 per ton, equalling R20 000 000 in total purchase cost.

At completion of the manufacturing process, the product is sold at R60 000.00 per ton. The efficiency of the manufacturing process leads to a 40% re-use (recycling) of the raw material. What the table above shows is that, if you sold all that you bought, then you would have a healthy profit (PLEASE NOTE, for the sake of simplicity,

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BUSINESS WASTE VALUE

R/ton purchase

Tons

Cost Month

Tons

R/ton sale

Sale Month

Profit

Perfect

R 20 000

1000

R 20 000 000

1 000

R 60 000

R 60 000

R 40 000

Real

R 20 000

1000

R 20 000 000

600

R 60 000

R 36 000 000

R 16 000 000

that the overhead and operating costs are not yet included.)—“PERFECT Line” But, if you were only able to sell 60% of bought product, the profit drops by 60%! - “REAL” Line This means that, in the month, they will only effectively be able to sell 60% of the bought, manufactured product. This first phase view and assessment of the process is not unique and, by all accounts, the cost and process accounting has taken this into consideration in the model.

The real cost of waste

Compounded Costs (Circular) There are other hidden costs and loss of revenue that are seen in a second, and third, phase review of the process. Most cost accounting will build in a cost-per-ton figure, which will include: • Overheads • Energy -Electricity -Water • Waste • Labour • Equipment maintenance But, does this approach work out what the compound circular cost of the process is, and not the linear cost? For each time that the material needs to be “re-used”, the above listed costs are compounded onto the per ton sales price. In other words: • You are doubling the energy usage for creating that one ton of completed ready-to- be-sold product

• You are doubling the labour cost • You are, in-fact, creating new staff positions to handle the re-use process • Your equipment is being used in a compound manner to create that one ton of ready-to-be-sold product Loss of Revenue What now needs to be considered is; what revenue was not obtained from the 40% that was not sold? What are the financial losses, from an interest point of view, with the monies not received? And does this impact on the cash flow?

An important note to consider is that, each time material is placed into the manufacturing process, it contains a percentage of material that has already been through the process, and sometimes more than once. So, what is the real value of your waste? And the real cost-per-ton of product that is ready to be sold?

Considerations

Waste may be ever-present in business and life, but our understanding can be adjusted to seek the true value and cost.

Once this is established, a more informed strategy can be created, to ensure that the “re-generatability” of the business is adopted and entrenched. By being able to understand and accurately measure the true value of waste, and knowing it has a circular impact, we can better adjust processes to limit the true cost. So, interrogate and ask the real questions, and get the real information.

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LWI Pty Ltd Limpopo Water Initiative (LWI) Pty (Ltd) is a leading multi-disciplinary company which provides services in the fields of Environmental consulting, Water Management consulting, Waste Management consulting, Waste Water Treatment Plants, Land rehabilitation and Vegetation control.

• Development of Legal Registers • Environmental Policy, Strategy and Action and Implementation Plan • ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 Development, Documentation, Pre-certification and Third party audits

MISSION AND VISION To set the standards in service delivery through outstanding professionalism and customer satisfaction while earning sustainable profits and growth.

• Air Quality Management and Monitoring • Development and Implementation of Air Quality Management Plans • On-site Air Quality Monitoring • Air Quality Monitoring Equipment Supply

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES • Environmental Impact, Performance and Risk Assessments • Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA); All Infrastructural projects • Basic Assessment Reports; All Infrastructural projects • Environmental Management Plans (EMP); All Infrastructural projects • Environmental Performance Assessments; Mining, Construction, e.t.c.

• Environmental Due Diligence Investigations e.g. hazardous waste, oil spills, wetlands, e.t.c.

• Environmental Risk Assessments for mine closures

• Social Impact Assessments • Development and promotion of appropriate training and capacity building programs for community – based development • Public Participation appraisal • Social Research

• Enviro-Legal and Compliance Audits • Environmental Compliance Audits

• Water Quality Management and Monitoring • Water Quality Management Programmes • Integrated Catchment Management Plans and Investigations • Water treatment technology • Supply of water treatment chemicals & Equipment • Evaluation of sanitation Impact • Sanitation advocacy and education • Technical Sanitation assessments • Sanitation projects implementation

Your Partner in Wastewater Management

• Laboratory services • Water Use License Applications • Registration of water use as required in terms of the National Water Act (ACT 36 of 1998) • Water use authorization applications and supporting technical reports; All schedule 21 water uses • Geohydrological Studies and Borehole Rehabilitation • Borehole Drilling & Testing • Drilled Borehole Rehabilitation • Waste License Applications • Feasibility studies and the development of waste management strategies • EIAR/BARs for environmental authorizations of waste management facilities • Development of Closure and Rehabilitation Plans for existing waste management facilities • Permit and license applications for waste management facilities • General and Hazardous Waste Management • Development of General and Hazardous (Integrated) Waste Management Plans • Development & Implementation of waste minimization Strategies • Landfill Engineering – site selection, design, rehabilitation and Leachate management

• Landfill Gas Management • Manufacturing and Installation of Underground Waste Containers • Waste Water Treatment Plants • Design & Upgrade of Waste Water Treatment Plants • Effluent management and solid waste treatment • Land Rehabilitation and Oil Spill Management • Oil Spills Management • Land Rehabilitation at contaminated sites • Geotechnical Investigations • Geotechnical Investigations • Geotechnical core logging • Geotechnical design and modeling • Geotechnical evaluation for slope stability • Vegetation Control • Weed Control • Bush Clearance

STAFF COMPLIMENT LWI Pty (Ltd) is staffed with a multi-disciplinary team of energetic and dynamic Professionals with a wealth of experience in all the various areas of expertise.

Our Office: 87 General Maritz Street, Bendor • P.o. Box 55594, Polokwane, 0700 PH: +27 15 297 4653 • FAX: +27 15 297 4716

FOOD WASTE IN SOUTH AFRICA

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FOOD WASTE IN SOUTH AFRICA

Understanding the Magnitude: Water Footprint and Cost.

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Dr Suzan HH Oelofse

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FOOD WASTE IN SOUTH AFRICA

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FOOD WASTE IN SOUTH AFRICA

F

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ood is treated as a disposable commodity throughout the developed world (Oelofse and Nahman, 2013). It is estimated that between 30% and 50% (or 1.2-2 billion tonnes) of all food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted before consumption (Institution of Mechanical Engineers, 2013). It is further reported that food wastage in developing countries (including sub-Saharan Africa) tend to occur mostly in the production and distribution stages as compared to developed countries where the bulk of the wastage occur at the retail and consumer end of the supply chain (Institution of Mechanical Engineers, 2013).

Dutch households are reported to waste 13.6% of edible food (Ministry of Economic Affairs, 2014) while UK households waste nearly 20% of the food they buy (Bond et al., 2013).

Globally agriculture accounts for the largest human use of water (Lundqvist et al., 2008). This is of significance when considering that about 90 percent of local South African fruit, vegetables and wine are produced under irrigation (DAFF, 2012) and mostly for the export market (ITC, 2010).

There is thus the potential of high levels of food wastage at the production side in South Africa and again at the consumptions stages if the final point of sale is Europe or other developed countries. In 2009, 46% of South African agricultural production was exported (GCIS, 2011) of which 40% was destined for European countries (ITC, 2010).

It is therefore important to understand the magnitude and causes of food waste and its impacts in both developing and developed countries in order to manage the food supply chain and resources used to produce food better.

The magnitude of food waste in South Africa

Research on food wastage in South Africa suggests that between 9 and 10 million tonnes of food waste is generated annually, this is equal to about 30% of the local agricultural production in South Africa (Oelofse and Nahman, 2013; Nahman and de Lange, 2013). The bulk of this food waste is generated in the pre-consumer stages of the supply chain as illustrated in Figure 1. It is estimated that only about 5% of the food

Figure 1: Estimated food waste in South Africa per commodity group at the different staged in the food supply chain (Oelofse and Nahman, 2013).

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waste is generated during consumption (Figure 1) (Oelofse and Nahman, 2013). This is in line with international assumptions.

International trends suggest that food wastage moves up the food supply chain as the level of development in a country increases (Institution of Mechanical Engineers, 2013). It is therefore likely that South Africa, as a developing economy may see similar trends in food waste over time. Changes in the South African food consumption patterns supported by a growing middle class, is already reported.

The shift is most evident in the decrease in the consumption of staple maize and bread to a more diverse diet (WWF-SA, 2010).

Understanding where in the supply chain the wastages occur, the value of food going to waste and the associated water losses will provide a clear picture of where in the supply chain intervention is required and on which commodity groups interventions should focus to reap the best results.

Impacts

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) published the first study analysing the environmental impacts of food waste in 2013 (FAO, 2013).

The environmental footprint of global food wastage is assessed through carbon footprint; water footprint; land occupation/ degradation impact; and potential biodiversity impact (FAO, 2013). The general approach to the assessment is based on multiplications of activity data (i.e. food wastage volumes) and specific factors (i.e. carbon, water and land impact factor) (FAO, 2013). Since the environmental impacts relate to the entire product and not only the edible portion, the general approach is to use the food wastage volumes of edible and non-edible parts in the footprint calculations (FAO, 2013). For the purposes of this paper, the focus will be on determining

FOOD WASTE IN SOUTH AFRICA

the water footprint of food waste in South Africa.

Water footprint

The water footprint concept was introduced

by Hoekstra in 2002 as an indicator of consumption-based water use (Chapagain and Hoekstra, 2004). The water footprint of an individual, business or nation is defined as the total volume of fresh water that is used to produce the goods and services consumed by the individual, business or nation (Chapagain and Hoekstra, 2004).

The Water Footprint Network (WFN) has developed a global standard on water footprint assessments (Hoekstra et al., 2011). Under the WFN definition, a water footprint consists of three sub-components namely blue water, green water and grey water. Blue water in agriculture refers to the consumptive use of irrigation water abstracted from surface or ground water.

Green water is the rainwater used in dryland agriculture. Grey water does not reflect actual water consumption, but it measures a theoretical volume of water that is required to dilute pollutants (FAO, 2013).

The global water footprint in the period 1996-2005 was 9087 Gm3/year (74% green, 11% blue and 15% grey) (Mekonnen and Hoekstra, 2011). The South African water footprint in the same period was 58853 Mm3 /year with agriculture contributing 76% of the total footprint (Mekonnen and Hoekstra, 2011). Water loss as a result of food waste can therefore be based on published water footprints of food products and the calculated food waste values for South Africa (including imports and exports).

Calculating the water footprint of food waste in South Africa

The published water footprints as discussed above, is focused on water use during

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agricultural production only since this is where the bulk of consumptive use takes place (FAO, 2013) The water footprint data is sometimes provided in more detail than commodity groups reported for food waste.

In such instances, South African production was used to calculate the water use of the food waste as presented in Table 1 and 2 below. The total food waste estimates as determined by Nahman and De Lange (2013) was split based on the percentage production, between the different commodities to calculate the water use per commodity. The water use (m3/ton) for total meat (Table 1) was determined by dividing the total water use of all meat types by the total meat waste (i.e. 3333531000

m3/753000 ton = 4477 m3/ton). A similar approach was followed to calculate the water use (m3/ton) for fruit and vegetables and oil seed and pulses (Table 2) Since no fresh water consumption can be associated with fish and seafood (Zimmer and Renault, 2003) the water footprint of fish and seafood was not included in this study. In order not to skew the numbers, the waste as a result of fish and seafood was not included in the overall calculations as indicated in Table 3.

The calculated water loss as a result of food waste (excluding fish and seafood) in South Africa is estimated at 12 854 million m3 (Table 3). The overall water footprint of food waste in South Africa is therefore in the order of 1288 m3/t (Table 3). It is evident

Meat type % production 2009 (Nahman and De Lange, 2013)

Water use m3/ton (Mekonnen 2010, Wenhold et al, 2012)

Food waste (t)

Water use (m3)

Poultry

52

3 800

391 560

1 487 928 000

Beef

29

5 200

5 200

1 135 524 000

Pork

12

5 000

90 360

451 800 000

Mutton

7

4 900

52 710

258 279 000

Total Meat

100

4 477

753 000

753 000

Table 1: Contribution of meat by type to water loss as a result of food waste Commodities

Global water use m3/t

% produced 2011

Food waste (t)

Water use (m3)

Vegetables

300

45

2 020 950

606 285 000

Fruits

1 000

55

2 470 050

2 470 050

Total fruit and vegetables

685

100

4 491 000

3 076 335 000

Oil seed

2 400

61

211 060

506 544 000

Pulses

4 000

39

134 940

539 760 000

Total oil seed and pulses

3 024

100

346 000

1 046 304 000

Table 2: Contribution of food commodities to water loss as a result of food waste

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FOOD WASTE IN SOUTH AFRICA

Food waste (1000 t) (Nahman and De Lange, 2013)

Water use (m3/t) (after Mekonnen, 2010)

Water loss (million m3)

% contribution to water loss

Cereals

2 605

1 600

4 168

32

Roots and Tubers

955

400

382

3

Oil seeds and pulses

346

3 024

1 046

8

Fruits and vegetables

4 491

685

3 076

24

Meat

753

4 427

3 334

26

Milk

831

1 020

848

7

Total

9 981

1 288

12 854

100

Table 3: Calculated water loss as a result of food waste in South Africa that cereals (32%), meat (26%) and fruit and vegetables (24%), combined are responsible for 82% of the water losses associated with food wastage in South Africa (Figure 2).

Discussion and conclusions

South Africa is a water scarce country and therefore should ensure efficient and effective use of its water resources. The overall water footprint for agricultural production in South Africa is estimated at 588 853 Mm3 (Mekonnen and Hoekstra, 2011). The total water loss as a result of food waste is in the order of 12 854 Mm3 or the equivalent of nearly 22% of the total water footprint of agricultural production in the country. Reducing food wastage could therefore result in a significant saving of water. When considering actions to reduce food wastage of certain commodity groups, one have to consider the volumes of waste, the cost and the environmental impacts.

The cost of food wastage to society is in the order of R61.5 billion per annum; equivalent to 2.1% of South Africa’s gross domestic product (Nahman and de Lange,

2013). Although the cost impact of fruit and vegetables are the highest (42%) followed by meat (32%)( Nahman and de Lange, 2013), cereals are contributing the most to water loss (32%) followed by meat (26%) (Figure 3). It is therefore evident that actions to reduce cost vs water savings as a result of food waste should be targeting different commodities. Another significant resource used in the production and processing of food is energy. Adding energy wasted as a result of food waste to this equation, will provide further guidance as to where interventions are most urgently required.

It should further be noted that although South Africa is a developing country, a shift in diet is already evident and changed consumer patterns will ultimately result in changes in the volumes and composition of household food waste. Continued research aimed at understanding the drivers of household food waste in developed countries is therefore required to avoid South Africa from following the same trends as developed countries with levels of postconsumer food waste reaching 20% or more.

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Figure 2: Percentage water loss as a result of food waste per commodity group in South Africa

Â

Figure 3: Percentage contribution of food waste per commodity group to wastage, cost and water use (Adapted from Nahman and de Lange, 2013).

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FOOD WASTE IN SOUTH AFRICA

References • Bond M, Meacham, T, Bhunnoo R and Benton TG. (2013) Food waste within global food systems. A Global Food Security Report (www.foodsecurity.ac.UK) • Chapagain AK and Hoekstra AY, 2004 Water footprints of nations. Value of Water Research Report Series No 16. UNSECO-IHE Delft, The Netherlands • DAFF (Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries) (2012) South Africa Yearbook 2011/12.

• FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation) (2013) Food Wastage Footprint: Impacts in natural resources, Technical Report. Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Rome Italy.

• GCIS (Government Communication and Information System) (2011) Pocket guide to South Africa 2010/11. Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

• Hoekstra AY, Chapagain AK, Aldaya MM, Mekonnen MM (2011) The Water Footprint Assessment manual: Setting the global standard, Earthscan, London, UK. • Institution of Mechanical Engineers, (2013). Global Food, Waste not want not. Available online at www.imeche.org/environment. Accessed January 2013.

• ITC (International Trade Centre) (2010) South Africa: A potential market for Agri-food products from Africa. Technical Paper (SC-10-190-E) • Lundqvist J, de Fraiture C and Molden D (2008) Saving Water: From Field to Fork – Curbing Losses and Wastage in the Food Chain. SIWI Policy Brief. Huddinge, Sweden: Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI).

• Mekonnen, MM and Hoekstra, AY. (2010) The green, blue and grey water footprint of crops and derived crop products, Value of Water Research Report series No 47, UNESCO-HE, Delft, the Netherlands.

• Mekonnen MM and Hoekstra, AY. (2011) National Water Footprint Accounts: The Green, Blue and Grey Water footprint of production and consumption, Vlaue of Water Research Report Series No 50., UNESCO-IHE, Delft, The Netherlands.

• Ministry of Economic Affairs (2014) Facts and Figures on consumer food waste in 2013: How much food is wasted by Consumers? Ministry of Economic Affairs, Den Haag.

• Nahman, A and De Lange, W. (2013) Costs of food waste along the value chain: Evidence from South Africa. Waste Management http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2013.07.012 • Oelofse, SHH and Nahman, A. (2013) Estimating the magnitude of food waste generated in South Africa. Waste Management and Research 31(1) 80-86.

• Wenhold F, Annandale J, Faber M and Hart T (2012) Water use and nutrient content of crop and animal products for improved household food security: A scoping study. Report to the Water research Commission, WRC Report No. TT 537/12.

• WWF-SA (World Wildlife Fund) (2010) Agriculture: Facts and trends, South Africa. Editors Goldblatt, A. and von Bormann, T. Available online at: www.wwf.org.za. Accessed 29 January 2013.

• Zimmer D and Renault D (2003) Virtual Water in food production and global trade review of methodological issues and preliminary results. Available at http://www.worldwatercouncil.org/fileadmin/ wwc/Programs/Virtual_Water/VirtualWater _article_DZDR.pdf Accessed on 8 August 2013.

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THE CHEMICAL AND ALLIED INDUSTRIES’ ASSOCIATION The Chemical and Allied Industries’ Association (CAIA), which was established in 1994 and is affiliated to the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA), seeks to fulfil its primary mission of; • • •

promoting the sound management of chemicals throughout their lifecycles, promoting the sustainable development of the chemical industry through investment, and promoting education and training to enhance the development of skills in the sector.

CAIA’s mission cannot be achieved without the involvement of its member companies. Members sign a commitment to strive for the continuous improvement of their safety, health and environmental performance with respect to products and processes – a commitment known around the world as the Responsible Care Public Commitment. Practiced in more than 60 countries, with 129 members in South Africa, the Responsible Care initiative is gaining momentum as a proactive approach to managing industry hazards.

REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE RECOVER The recently promulgated National Environmental Management: Waste Amendment Act has seen the establishment of the Waste Management Bureau of the Department of Environmental Affairs. The bureau, along with the National Pricing Strategy for Waste Management Charges, intends to mainstream the “Polluter Pays Principle” and in so doing reduce the generation of waste, increase the diversion of waste from landfill and support the growth of a secondary resources economy where waste has value and in effect becomes a renewable resource. This intention was made clear by the Minister of Environmental Affairs who, during her budget vote speech on 17 July 2014, prioritised product/product groups and waste streams which will be subject to the Pricing Strategy. Several models of waste management charges are outlined in the draft* strategy with options available for industry-led Extended Producer (or Product) Responsibility Schemes, in order to entrench the “Cradle-to-Grave” approach.

Waste is an inevitable outcome of the use and production of goods, and should be managed to minimise any potential impacts on human health and the environment. The principle of waste minimisation that is entrenched in the National Environmental Management: Waste Act should be implemented through the use of the waste hierarchy approach: reduce, re-use, recycle and recover. Waste should only be disposed of if there is no other option available. Companies which are signatories to the CAIA Responsible Care initiative, report these activities to CAIA on an annual basis and are committed to continuously improving their performance when it comes to production and resource efficiency.

As a part of their commitment to the Responsible Care initiative, members also subject themselves to a range of independent third-party audits and verification procedures to ensure that risks that are associated with their activities are being identified and appropriately managed.

A company’s commitment to the Responsible Care initiative requires that there is a waste management plan in place which includes aspects such as how waste will be eliminated, reduced, re-used, recycled or managed in other ways to reduce its potential impacts. There are many different approaches to how industrial waste can be managed. Solid waste, for example, can be collected and transported for treatment, disposal or recycling at

contracted waste management facilities. Alternatively, waste can be managed on site if, for example, a company can re-use or treat its waste during production. Other waste can be transferred to partnering companies as a raw material for their own processes. All of these waste management activities reduce the amount of waste that is ultimately disposed of through landfilling and members make use of one or more of these activities to manage their waste responsibly.

The implementation of Responsible Care Management Practice Standards, international standards (International Organization for Standardization) and local standards (South African Bureau of Standards) ensures that a company complies with local and/or international requirements with regards to waste management – which forms an element of each of these standards. These standards include guidelines and principles which cover pollution prevention and resource efficiency, for example, through the identification of best practices, equipment and technologies to reach an optimal level of sustainability. Although local legislation regulates certain aspects of waste management, CAIA members – through the Responsible Care initiative – aim to continuously improve their performance when it comes to reducing the generation and disposal of waste.

CAIA strives to represent the chemical and allied industries in South Africa by; • • • • • • •

ensuring a balanced perception of its contribution to the South African economy, investigating and pursuing opportunities for growth and trade, fostering cooperation between companies, including small and developing businesses, publicising CAIA and member activities as widely as possible to create public awareness in terms of how the chemical industry is continuously improving and committed to doing so, proactively consulting and advising government on the content and potential consequences of proposed legislation through various channels (Business Unity South Africa, the National Economic Development and Labour Council, and Parliamentary representation) where possible and appropriate, promoting and representing the broad interests of the chemical and allied industries when engaging with government and stakeholders, and engaging in relevant national and international fora and activities.

Membership is open to chemical manufacturers and traders as well as to organisations which provide a service to the chemical industry, such as hauliers and consultants.

Please contact Deidré Penfold for more information. caiainfo@caia.co.za (011) 482 – 1671

*at time of going to print

RADIOACTIVE WASTE

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RADIOACTIVE WASTE...

A NECESSARY EVIL? A Brief Primer on Radioactive Nuclear Waste.

Thomas R. Myburgh

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RADIOACTIVE WASTE

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ll energy generation technologies in operation today have waste by-product(s) of some kind; the extent and impact of these wastes on the environment, and economy, differ according to the particular vantage point of the speaker and/or audience. Nuclear energy, and the radioactive waste (Radwaste) it produces, is by far the most controversial of these wastes; more so for reasons of its longevity than the actual radiation hazard it poses. The particular aspects of radioactive waste that give rise to the large, vociferous anti-nuclear lobby are not the subject of this article. Instead, it seeks to inform and provide insight into how the waste is created, processed or conditioned, stored, shipped and finally disposed. The article is by no means extensive in explaining the above and should rather be viewed as an introduction, and stimulus, for debate on the subject with a view to follow-up articles. No attempt is made to promote a pro- or antinuclear lobby nor should either be inferred.

The South African Government has made it clear that nuclear WILL form part of the future energy mix and, in recent months, have made various public announcements to ‘promote’ this firm commitment. As the public, we have a duty to ensure that current and ‘future waste products’ are safely processed, transported and disposed.

We can do this by being well informed. This article aims to provide a start to that journey; of a well-informed public voice!

Background

Medical and industrial Radwaste is generated by research institutions, hospitals, mines, engineering businesses, etc. and the decommissioning of the former nuclear facilities of the Atomic Energy Corporation (AEC), used for the production of enriched Uranium, – now permanently shutdown.

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However, the bulk of the waste results from nuclear power generation. In our case, this comes from Koeberg Power Station in Cape Town. This article will mainly focus on the cradle to grave waste cycle at Koeberg.

All the above entities use the National Radioactive Waste Repository at Vaalputs, a 10000ha site in Namaqualand region of the Northern Cape, for final disposal and have the same responsibility as the nuclear power producer to institute waste reduction measures and to handle and dispose of it safely – in accordance with regulations. The facility is managed by the South African National Energy Corporation (NECSA) on behalf of the government.

Legislation

South Africa has a very rigorous legislative environment for the regulation of nuclear energy and its waste products; in many instances more stringent than international standards authorities such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Despite the many laws, radioactive waste material is still found in undesirable places; drainage from abandoned mines being a case in point. The lack of enforcement in this area, though, is a different debate. The following are some of the regulations that govern Radwaste: • The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa • Nuclear Energy Act • National Nuclear Regulator Act • National Waste Disposal Repository Act • National Environmental Management Act, etc.

Types of waste (Waste Classification) and its origins

Let’s first define what radioactive waste is.

In simple terms, it is waste that has become contaminated, by virtue of its use in a

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nuclear plant, research facility, hospital, etc. and this contamination is at levels higher than the clearance specifications prescribed by the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR). It is waste because it has no further use! The hazard posed by radioactive waste is due to the energy it emits in the form of radiation.

The degree of hazard depends on the duration of exposure, radioactivity level of the waste and the type of radiation – alpha, beta, gamma or neutron. When spent nuclear fuel, i.e. fuel used in the production of nuclear energy, is re-processed, high-level waste results.

Koeberg produces no high-level waste – the spent fuel is managed and stored on site and is monitored by the IAEA. The latent heat from the remaining thermal power is not enough to cost-effectively generate electricity with, but nevertheless requires continuous cooling.

Re-processing is an option, but very expensive, leaving long-term storage as the ‘best’ option; for now! Also, Vaalputs is not licensed to receive high-level waste.

Intermediate, low level and low-low level wastes, such as contaminated gloves, clothes, paper, tools, filters, pumps, etc. are generated from day-to-day activities on the power station like routine plant maintenance, operations inspections, chemical sampling, etc. During these activities, the variety of waste created is collected and segregated according to: • type, whether it is compressible or not; • radionuclide level – how radioactive it is and whether it is long- or short-lived (half life less than 30 years); • size – determines the size of the container in which it will be conditioned, stored and transported.

Correct classification, then, is of utmost importance. Depleted high active resins and filters used in the primary cycle for the

9

clean-up of steam generator and spent fuel pool water e.g. are disposed of in big concrete drums and not in steel drums, even if it would fit, otherwise it would exceed safe transport regulations. On the other hand, a big pump with low activity might easily fit in a steel drum, but be too heavy and exceed the maximum design weight of the steel drum and the allowable weight specifications in terms of transport, as well as the waste acceptance criteria of Vaalputs. Smaller compressible items such as paper, plastic, clothes, etc. are compacted into steel drums, thereby reducing the waste in volume. The final choice of drum size and type, then, is determined by the type and size of waste and the activity level thereof. The waste is then conditioned by compaction into steel drums and solidification (by addition of a concrete mix) into concrete drums. Some plants use vitrification to immobilise the waste.

A typical waste cycle

Let’s pretend to follow a hypothetical radioactive particle from generation to disposal. The plant is about to start up for the very first time. Apart from the fuel, nothing else is either radioactive or contaminated.

During the course of its operation, the water that is heated by the fission process in the reactor is transferred to the steam generators which drive the turbines, in turn activating the generator to create electricity.

This water eventually returns to its source after being cooled in a condenser. In between this cycle, it passes through various systems that comprise resins and filters designed to clean the water of impurities and also additives that condition it e.g. chemicals to adjust the pΗ. Various activities take place during this time: • Operations – monitor performance of equipment and adjust accordingly; • Chemistry – sample and test;

RADIOACTIVE WASTE

• Radiation Protection – scan activity levels, etc.

The particle will eventually be ‘captured’ in one of the cleaning systems. When this media cannot perform effectively and is exhausted (demineralizers resins) or is clogged (filters) it needs replacement by maintenance personnel. Our first intermediate level waste is created! The replacement also results in contaminated gloves, clothes, and other articles. Our first low-level waste is created.

The resin or filter waste is transferred to a concrete drum, immobilised by addition of a concrete mix and stored until the concrete has fully hardened. The lowlevel waste is collected, segregated then immobilised by compaction into steel drums and stored. Other items such as tools and clothes are decontaminated for re-use.

During the course of immobilisation and decontamination further waste is generated and the cycle continues.

In storage, the waste is further classified and prepared for transportation. This entails application of labels identifying the waste type, activity level, drum weight, etc. The drums are inspected and loaded onto a special truck and off it goes for final disposal.

Again, waste is created in the process.

On arrival at the repository it is off-loaded, inspected and cleared for final disposal also here, low level waste results.

Waste Reduction

Non-contamination of items presents the best opportunity for reduction of waste. If it’s not generated, it eliminates the whole cycle of conditioning, storage, transport and disposal, saving a lot of time and money. It is easier said than done, though! So, what could be done to reduce the creation of radioactive waste?

• Training of radworkers (workers authorised to work in a controlled zone,

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Mashinini Enterprise Trust was formed with the purpose of addressing the needs of our growing country therefore contributing to the growth of the economy and creating sustainable jobs.

• Construction • Earthworks • Maintenance of Landfill Site

Contact persons: Mr. David Mashinini: 083 305 1905 Mr. Palo Ntoane: 082 297 3806 Po Box 1371 BETHLEHEM 9700 Telefax 058 303 0245 Cell 083 305 1905 Email mashininient@lantic.net

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i.e. an area within a nuclear power station (NPS) consisting of both clean, and possibly radioactive and contaminated areas) in methods of minimisation.

• Reducing maintenance by optimal control of the plant and equipment involved in power generation.

• Reducing opportunities for waste creation through better waste path design for improved flow (fewer stops, for example) • Continuous improvement of processes by employing best practice principles; peer reviews and comparisons with other nuclear plants and using the latest available technologies.

Koeberg employs a variety of means to reduce waste volumes: drying of resins, compaction of compressible materials, decontamination and re-use of contaminated items. Other plants use melting and incineration – an option investigated for use at Koeberg years ago, but found to be prohibitively expensive (at the time).

Conclusion

South Africa has been blessed with a rich abundance of natural, renewable energy (re) sources and could, perhaps, make a more concerted effort to develop and exploit them. Since nuclear is here to stay (it seems)

RADIOACTIVE WASTE

we, as the public, need to ensure that it is generated within the ambit of the various laws – and that the resultant radioactive waste products is managed sustainably, with minimisation efforts having top priority.

It is, perhaps, time to revisit alternatives to current waste handling methods, step-up identification of opportunities to reduce waste creation, and also to reduce waste already created; think incineration! Clever design of future nuclear power plants will also go a long way to eliminate and reduce radioactive wastes.

It is time, also, to actively explore options for high-level storage (deep geological storage) and extension/creation of nearsurface disposal facilities such as at Vaalputs – estimated to reach full capacity by 2030 - especially considering the renewed drive for nuclear to play a bigger role in the South African energy mix.

The government and nuclear waste generators MUST do much more to actively engage the public by providing information, seeking ‘local’ solutions and addressing concerns regarding nuclear generation more so radioactive waste storage and disposal.

Since we cannot do away with the waste, let’s not be caught napping like other countries and, instead, be pioneers – we have the resources and technological savvy to do it and to do it well!

References • www.necsa.co.za • www.eskom.co.za • www.gov.za

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AT-SOURCE RECYCLING

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AT-SOURCE RECYCLING What is and isn’t working amongst some Western Cape municipalities.

Hugh Tyrrell

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AT-SOURCE RECYCLING

I

n recent years, waste management has undergone a paradigm shift. Previously, it was seen as a transport and logistics operation, where big trucks picked up garbage from homes and factories, took it outside the town and dumped it in a hole in the ground.

This “hump ‘n dump” approach has fallen from favour.

Landfills are now filling up or are already full. Environmental and social concerns are on the rise. This includes putting reusable waste materials to work in reducing pollution and increasing job creation. Companies, and communities, are having to take greater responsibility for their part in dealing with the waste their products, and purchasing choices, generate. Recycling has come to the fore.

National government has reacted in various ways, passing legislation that requires municipalities to provide recycling services to householders. Yet, most municipal solid waste departments are staffed by engineers whose backgrounds often lack experience, or understanding, of the recycling business and the social behaviour issues involved in making a success of separation-at-source programmes. In essence, these programmes are concerned with managing the transfer of a “free” commodity – domestic recyclable waste - from a public utility to a private commercial contractor. Their business model is dependent on optimum quantities of the commodity being supplied through the voluntary participation of residents. A complex system, indeed, which needs careful implementation and management.

Research project

PlasticsSA has a mission of zero plastic waste to landfill by 2030.

In pursuit of this goal, in a project initiated and undertaken

by GreenEdge Communications, the organisation funded research into what was, and was not, working in at-source recycling amongst a number of Western Cape municipalities.

The outcomes of the project pointed to a focus on public education for participation, and on the relationship between municipality and the recycling contractor. After discussions with Western Cape government waste management department, the selected municipalities’ waste management officers were contacted and interviewed. The interviews included a structured set of questions and some unstructured discussion on what was particular to that municipality. Brief summaries of their responses are outlined in alphabetical order below. The majority of the separation-at-source programmes researched in the study require residents to sort their waste into two

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bags for kerbside collection – black bag for “wet” materials, (i.e. all food-contaminated or otherwise non-recyclable waste that the municipality takes to landfill) and “dry” (plastic, tins, paper and glass that is collected by the contractor and then sorted and sold on for re-processing). The kerbside services are aimed at residents in middle and upperincome suburbs. This is because their higher disposable income and purchasing results in greater volumes of recyclable items; mostly packaging. In lower-cost housing areas and informal settlements, a variety of community-based and non-profit initiatives operate buy-back centres and swop-shops in which the municipalities are not directly involved.

Bergrivier Municipality

The Bergrivier Municipality, on the West Coast, includes Piketberg, Velddrif and Porterville. Householders separate waste into three bags – clear for recyclables, green for garden trimmings and black for refuse. Greens go to the landfill as cover material, while recyclables are collected by a contractor and taken to a simple materials recovery facility (MRF) owned and operated by the contractor, sorted manually and baled for transport to Cape Town.

The service is currently available to some 8,500 households. Public education for recycling has been done through schools, leaflets in post boxes and community newspapers. The participation rate amongst households averages 20%.

City of Cape Town Municipality

Cape Town is the largest municipality in the Western Cape with some 830 000 formal households. After a round of pilots, their programme was branded as “Think Twice” and rolled out to be implemented by contractors in selected groups of middle and

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upper income suburbs. Tender specifications were tightened to include a R300 000 minimum budget per contract towards public education and behaviour change.

A minimum household participation rate was also set for the contractor, below which financial penalties would apply. Recyclables collected at kerbside are taken to the City’s large MRF at Kraaifontein to be sorted by technical means and by hand. Contractors are required to produce and distribute educational leaflets to households and place adverts in community newspapers following the City’s branding guidelines.

By 2011, over 120 000 households were receiving kerbside collections. Currently, the overall average participation rate is estimated by the municipality at more than 60% of households.

Drakenstein Municipality

Drakenstein Municipality includes Paarl and Wellington with some 40 000 households.

Kerbside recycling began in 2011and now serves 10 700 households. Public education and behaviour change marketing to households has been managed by an outside service provider through information leaflets and fridge reminder cards. Feedback and articles on progress are reported in the local newspaper.Initially, a private contractor operated her own vehicle for collections and also managed the municipal-owned MRF. When the contract ended, the municipality took over and brought in EPWP (Extended Public Works Programme) workers to assist with collections and operating the MRF. At present, household participation averages 24%.

George Local Municipality

George is the largest town on the Southern Cape coast with some 43 000 households.

Kerbside recycling collections are done by a contractor who follows the daily beats

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of the municipal refuse truck through the suburbs, collecting bags of recyclables and swopping for fresh ones. Bags are taken to the contractor’s recovery facility, sorted by hand, and baled for transport to Cape Town.

A blue bag for recyclables, together with an educational pamphlet, is delivered to all houses by the contractor. Those wanting the service get in touch with the municipality, who informs the contractor. The contractor also places articles in the local newspaper to encourage residents to join in. An estimated 6 000 households, or 14per cent, are currently using the service.

Knysna Local Municipality

One of seven in the Eden District Municipality, Knysna municipality is mainly a tourism resort and retirement area that includes Sedgefield, Karatara and Buffels Bay. Households number some 22 000.

Separation-at-source recycling began in 1989 when residents started their own system; taking recyclable materials to a centre in the town run by a local recycling company. Collection of recyclables was later taken over by the municipality.

Public education is activated through local media, with information on progress and achievements. The percentage of households participating is estimated at 55%.

Mossel Bay

Mossel Bay includes Hartenbos, Little Brak River, and Great Brak River. In 2011, households numbered 28 025. The municipality launched separation-at-source kerbside recycling in 2005. Householders are given blue bags for recycling that a private recycling company collects from kerbside and takes to its own sorting plant. There is no tender contract with the recycling company, but a council decision allows the company to be paid the equivalent of the

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value of air space saved at the local landfill by the recycling diversion. The kerbside collection service is available to over 25 000 households, of whom 13%, on average, participate.

Overstrand Municipality

Overstrand Municipality includes Hermanus, Kleinmond, Stanford and Gansbaai.

Households number some 31 800. A private company initially began recycling and since 2004 a two-bag collection system has been run by the municipality. Bags are transported to two sorting facilities owned by the municipality and managed on contract by a recycling company. One operates by manual sorting, while the other is a MRF with a conveyor. Next to it, on land leased from the municipality, a buy-back centre is run by the contractor which services the nearby lowerincome community. In November, before the holiday season, an educational leaflet is posted to owners/ratepayers. Municipal staff also hand out bags and leaflets if the house is occupied or has a post box. Articles in the local newspaper and leaflets in rates bills encourage participation, as do promotions at schools and the annual Whale Festival.

Permanent residents’ participation rates average 55 to 60%. Participation increases in

Stellenbosch Local Municipality

Stellenbosch is the second largest municipality in the Western Cape. At the 2011 census, there were just over 43 000 households. The municipality began its own small separation-at-source kerbside collection programme in 2011. Minimal budget, staff and equipment was allocated to it, so it has run on a low-key basis thus far.

Residents joining the programme are provided with clear bags at municipal offices, where a database of names and addresses for collection is kept. Some

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bags of recyclables are taken to a home for mentally-challenged people, who sort and sell the recyclables for their own upkeep, while the balance is transported to the City of Cape Town’s Kraaifontein MRF, 25km from Stellenbosch. The municipality is planning an upgrade of the separation-at-source system aiming at a purpose-built MRF and best practice principles.

Witzenberg District Municipality

Located in the central Western Cape, the main towns in the district municipality are Ceres, Wolseley, and Tulbagh. The estimated number of households is 16 500. Three bags can be put out for kerbside collection – black for refuse, green for garden waste and a clear bag for source-separated recyclables.

The municipality picks up the first two while a contractor collects the recyclables for sorting at its own MRF. Public awareness and education is done by the municipality and is outsourced. Schools are also involved in waste and recycling education programmes.

The kerbside collection programme is estimated at diverting some 3 500 tons per annum, or 18%, away from landfill.

Conclusions

Responses from this qualitative research project show municipalities, in different localities, dealing with a variety of public/ private relationships, and systems, that rely on a range of factors for success. Most important among these, is encouraging optimum recycling participation from

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householders. To achieve this, the supporting infrastructure systems should make it as convenient as possible. This can be done, for example, through the provision of free bags and weekly same-day kerbside collection of recyclables, and easy separation-at-source, namely the wet/dry, two-bag requirement.

In addition, a thorough, ongoing educational and behaviour change programme, aimed at those communities to whom the service is being provided, is vital. This can often be downgraded as a ‘soft’ option, but successful municipalities realise that adequate emphasis and budget for this component is a necessary inclusion in the terms of reference for tenders.

Also important, is a supportive relationship between municipality and recycling contractor to assist with the economic viability of the programme.

Contractors who are able to bring knowledge and experience of the recycling industry in general are valuable partners.

Separation-at-source recycling is best seen as an interlinking set of different elements that need to be in harmony for it to work best. Greatest efficiencies arise from understanding the elements of a programme as a whole system. The research and responses have brought to light insights and practices that can be put to use elsewhere. In all, they fill a gap in current knowledge, assisting diversion and recovery of valuable re-usable materials while supporting the long-term aim of zero waste to landfill.

Acknowledgements Thanks to PlasticsSA who sponsored the research, the Western Cape Directorate of Waste Management, and the time and input of the municipalities and officials. This article draws partially on a conference paper presented at the Institute of Waste Management SA’s WasteCon 2014.

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THE VINEYARD HOTEL

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A CASE STUDY FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT IN THE HOSPITALITY SECTOR The Vineyard Hotel

Chris van Zyl

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THE VINEYARD HOTEL

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he Vineyard Hotel is a privately owned hotel situated in the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town. The Hotel’s vision is to work in harmony with the environment and the community and in partnership with our stakeholders. Value is placed on sustainable growth, profitability and long term success through partnership with employees, guests and the community. The main aim of the Hotel’s waste policy is to reduce the volume of waste that goes to landfill to a minimum, with the end goal being zero waste to landfill.

The period of this submission is March 2013 to February 2014. The Hotel has managed to reduce its waste to landfill, in April 2003, from 336 wheelie bins and 58 loose bags to an average of 51 bins to landfill in the last financial year (March 2013-February 2014).

This equates to in excess of 96% reduction in waste to landfill in nine years, while the Hotel’s average occupancy has constantly been growing; having added an additional 41 rooms over this period. Waste reduction is an integral part of the Vineyard Hotel’s sustainability policy. At the Vineyard Hotel, all staff receive training in the waste policy at induction and in the synergy sustainability training session. The training explains exactly how the waste should be separated at the source and then transported to the waste facility. They are also informed about the bigger picture and the impact of waste on the environment.

Waste Minimisation Facility

In April 2003, the Hotel’s waste removal company removed 336 x 240 litre waste bins and 58 loose bags, and in June 2003, they removed 255 x 240 litre bins and 30 loose bags. The waste contractor was visiting the site seven days per week

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and removing almost 12 bins per day. In September 2003, the Hotel contracted a waste minimization company; Save All. Prior to this, they were doing a minimum amount of recycling. When Save All started, the Hotel implemented a rigorous recycling programme which has reduced the waste to landfill significantly. By January 2004, waste pickups were reduced from seven per week to four per week and the volumes had dropped significantly to 132 x 240 litre bins. The cost of removing the 336 bins was very close to the new rate with four pickups per week.

In June 2009, Save All was absorbed

by Waste Plan. Waste Plan provides a more inclusive service, which includes a live website to view waste and recyclable figures, management of the site and regular visits, on-site weighing of the waste, disposal of hazardous waste and recycling of e-waste. By March 2014, 51 bins were sent to landfill and 92% of the Hotel’s waste was recycled. Waste to landfill was also reduced to collection only three times per week.

Waste minimisation is communicated to the guests by: • Battery and cork collection boxes in the foyer • Living Green Facebook page and the green TV channel in the rooms • Information in the guest folder in the rooms • Signage outside the waste room

Waste monitoring (2013-2014)

• Target: Waste recycled 2013, average of 94% • Current: Waste recycled average of 92% The Vineyard Hotel compared its waste figures from July 2011 to June 2012 to the submission dates between March 2013 and

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March 2014. The waste recycled percentage improved from 89% to 92%. The total weight of the recycled waste is 409321 kg with just 8% of the total waste weight, 36523 kg, going to landfill. Over this 12 month period, the volume of recycling at the Vineyard prevented the emission of 634.06 metric tons of CO2 per ‘wet weight’ tons of material recycled.

This figure is calculated based on the difference in energy, and, therefore, carbon dioxide emissions between manufacturing material from raw materials and recycling that material. The Hotel achieved these results due to on-going staff training, signage, the presence of a waste minimization company on-site and other initiatives.

Waste minimization recycling initiatives for kitchen, restaurants & banqueting

In order to maximise recycling efficiency, a trio-bin system is operated in the Hotel’s staff canteen, banqueting and restaurant areas separating the wet waste from the dry. One bin is for wet organic waste, one for dry paper-type waste, and one is for plastic, glass bottles and tins. In the kitchen, the waste bins are separated into dry waste, green organic trimmings and proteincontaminated waste.

At the back-of-house, a tri-bin system is in place, separating waste into wet or food waste; plastics, tins, glass and paper, polystyrene and Tetra Pak and a twin-bin system is provided in the Conference Centre to encourage guests to participate in waste separation at the source. In June 2012, the Hotel started to outsource its canteen lunches and suppers. This has reflected positively on the generation of waste in the kitchen.

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A green procurement document has been designed to ensure that, wherever possible, articles purchased have a recyclable content and chemicals are checked to confirm that they are safe for the environment. This department also collects used paper and sorts it to send to other departments for in-house printing.

All SAB bottles that can be returned are collected from the various outlets and collected by Peninsula Beverages and refunds are obtained. Glass jam jars, from the restaurants, are returned to the suppliers and refunds are obtained. The Hotel uses glass mineral water bottles that are 23% recycled content, except at the pool where plastic is preferred for safety reasons.

All bottles are sent for recycling. A Vivreau water filtrate system was installed to reduce the volume of bottled water required in the lounge and restaurant. This system filters tap water and generates either still or carbonated water, which is then bottled in high quality, reusable glass bottles, thus reducing the carbon footprint and waste generated from bottles that would normally be sent for recycling.

Used cooking oil is returned to the supplier, Fry More Oils, and the Hotel is compensated for the used oil. This oil is then passed on to a company called Cape Used Cooking Oil, which uses the old oil in the manufacture of biodiesel. From March 2013 till February 2014, the Hotel has purchased 11,900 litres and recycled 5950 litres for biodiesel.

Following new agricultural laws, requiring untreated protein to be barred from becoming animal feed, all contaminated protein waste now goes for composting via the Bokashi process. This process is odour free, and the waste is turned into compost over an 8 to 12 week period, the Hotel then purchases this back for reuse in the garden.

THE VINEYARD HOTEL

Material Safety Data Sheets have been obtained for all the chemicals used in the Hotel and, where possible, chemicals that are harmful to staff and the environment have been replaced with environmentally compliant ones. New chemicals are first checked by a chemical engineer before they are introduced. A microbial solution called Effective Microbes (EM) is dosed into the fat traps and drains. It digests and breaks down the fats in the pipes, thus keeping the pipes clean of blockages, free from odour, and it prevents fats from entering the municipal sewerage line. This is also used to spray on the waste to reduce odours and for cleaning of the bins.

Plastic picnic hamper containers have been replaced with biodegradable cutlery and containers, made from bagasse (a fibrous pulp left over after the juice has been extracted from sugar cane or sorghum stalks), with explanatory signage indicating that the utensils be returned to the Hotel to be sent for composting.

Packaging returned in the kitchen

• Tydstroom chicken supplier takes back their boxes.

• Milk suppliers, as well as all fruit and vegetable suppliers, take back their crates.

• All ice cream containers are reused in the kitchen.

• All egg boxes are sent for recycling.

Uncorked initiative

Wine bottle corks have been removed from the waste stream and are now being collected in collaboration with Amorim Cork. An initiative was launched where, for every 10,000 corks collected, Amorim would supply 10m² of free cork flooring. To date, 1,136,000 corks have been collected and

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30m² of cork flooring has been laid at the Anthea Peters Home and 125 m² at Wood Side Centre.

Bread tags

To raise awareness regarding recycling, the Hotel collects bread tags that are sent for recycling to raise funds for the Wheelchair Foundation. The tags are all collected from staff as the Hotel bakes its own bread on-site.

This has also lead the Hotel to investigate the recycling of security tags, as they are made from the same material, to confirm if these could be added to the bread tags; adding 2 kg to the volume per month. 50 kg of bread tags have already been collected.

All departments are challenged to collect bread tags to help people in need of wheelchairs. Glass jars are given to each department for collection. Each competition runs for 30 days. The tags are then weighed and the winner is announced during a staff meeting. This is done to improve awareness of recycling amongst the hotel staff and to help people in need to obtain wheelchairs.

Puro fair-trade bags

The Puro Fair-trade coffee foil containers, that were previously going to landfill, are being collected, upcycled, and sent back to the Puro coffee company. They have engaged the local community to make shopping bags out of these to generate an income.

Pilot program: oyster mushrooms

The Vineyard Hotel has launched a new pilot programme from January 2014 where gourmet mushrooms are grown on the Hotel’s coffee grounds. 15kg of perfect Pink Oysters were harvested and delivered back to the Hotel in January 2014. Urban farming specialists, Artisan Mushrooms,

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approached the Hotel with their ‘no waste’ idea for growing mushrooms. They are now considering project extensions to allow for a greater selection and seasonal varieties.

After patrons have enjoyed their coffee at the hotel, the grounds are collected and delivered to an off-site production unit. Depending on the types involved, mushrooms are grown, harvested and delivered back to the Hotel’s restaurant within six weeks. The Hotel’s restaurant, The Square, Conference Centre and canteen generate 150 kg’s worth of coffee grounds in an average month. A high premium is placed on eco-friendly and long-term sustainability practices across all operational areas of the Hotel. The coffee grounds are now a resource that can be further reused before being finally composted.

Waste reduction linked to rooms

Towels are only laundered for long-staying guests when they throw them in the bath or leave them on the floor. Linen is also only changed for long staying guests when they leave the “please change my linen” card on the pillow. This has reduced the water and chemical consumption of the Hotel.

Energy saving bulbs have been installed in rooms, public areas and the Conference Centre where possible. The average dichroic down lighter or incandescent bulb lasts for 3 months, where the energy saving CFL bulb lasts for 5,000 hours thus saving on energy, waste to landfill and labour to change the bulbs. In excess of 5000 LED bulbs have now also been installed to replace the incandescent bulbs. These have an even longer 25,000 hour plus life span, even further saving on waste and energy.

Dual Flush toilet cisterns reduce the volume of water effluent going to waste and washable fabric hand towels are provided in

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public area restrooms; eliminating the need to use paper towels.

Noah project

Used soap is donated to the Independent Fund-Raising Professional called the Noah Project, an environmental and socially sound initiative, which started in Khayelitsha in 2010. This is a job-creation project where used soap is cleaned and broken up into new soap using glycerine to bind it. The members divert soap from landfill sites and recycle the ingredients of high quality soap creating a beautiful and eco-friendly bar of soap. The Hotel has also bought back soap from the project to use as gifting for guests. This innovative initiative for older persons in Khayelitsha has allowed the Noah participants to earn an extra R230 per month.

Offices

Twin bins were installed in the Hotel’s offices, thus ensuring that the wet waste stays separate from the dry waste. The LaserFische system was installed in the Hotel’s Front Office; reducing paper usage by 21% and reducing waste generation.

Used paper is used for internal printing and memos, thus getting maximum use out of this resource before it goes for recycling.

E-waste, in the form of old printers, monitors, keyboards, etc, are removed by Waste Plan.

The company dismantles the equipment and what they can’t re-use is disposed of in an environmentally safe manner. Used printer cartridges are returned and the Hotel gets a refund on them.

Laundry

Old linen and towels are donated to staff and charities. Bleach was replaced by oxygenated bleach, which is less harmful to people and the environment. The Hotel has

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also upgraded the laundry machinery and new washing machines use the water from the last rinse for the next first wash cycles.

This saves water and reduces the volume going to waste.

Garden

A small percentage of the garden waste that the Hotel generates on-site is turned into compost on site. The heavy-duty green waste is collected by a reputable waste contractor, U-Save Waste, and delivered to the closest municipal transfer site, where it is turned into mulch and compost. The Hotel, in turn, buys back the organic compost from Reliance, who manage the transfer sites, thus closing the loop.

Only organically certified compost and fertilizers are used so there is no leaching of chemicals into the groundwater or the Liesbeek River, which runs through the Vineyard Hotel’s property. Zero to Landfill Organics removes the soft garden waste; 100 refuse bags per week. This is mixed with food waste, on their site, to generate compost.

Community initiative

Recycling facilities on the Hotel’s grounds are available to the local community to receive their recyclables, as there is no drop-off site close by. The facility also accepts batteries and CFL bulbs, which need to be sent for safe disposal as hazardous waste. Currently, 23 community members regularly deposit their recycling at the Hotel.

Conclusion

It is the intention of the Vineyard Hotel to constantly improve on its green procurement and waste policy to a point where everything is biodegradable, or has a recycled content, and where a very small volume of waste goes to landfill.

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WASTE AWARENESS TAKING OFF AT CAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Engaging Stakeholders in Waste Minimisation

Andrew Bennett

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WASTE AWARENESS

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irports Company South Africa (ACSA) operates nine airports in South Africa, with six of them afforded international status. One of these is Cape Town International Airport, which is also Africa’s most award-winning airport. For the fourth consecutive year running, Cape Town International Airport took first place in the Best Airport by Region (Africa) category at the Airport Council International’s 2013 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) awards. The airport has also won the SKYTRAX World Airports Awards for Staff Service Excellence for four consecutive years.

Operating a successful world-class airport goes far deeper than simply ensuring safe and efficient air travel. While the title ‘international airport’ implies having the necessary infrastructure, such as longer runways and customs and immigration facilities to service long-haul and transnational flights, it also conveniently markets the airport as a highly desirable place to do business.

Today, the focus of a major international airport is as much about servicing airlines and passengers as it is about driving commercial and retail activity in and around its terminal buildings. It’s a shift that is certainly driven by the economics of operating an airport, but is also, unquestionably, made lucratively possible by the reality of the modern consumer and the luxury of a captive audience. The yesteryear excitement of passing time waiting at the airport, watching aircraft take off and land (while eating your own packed lunch), has been replaced by the lure of the shopping mall. Make no mistake, waiting for a flight is still drearily time consuming these days, perhaps opportunely even more so, but there are now

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plenty of other things to distract us. Most of these distractions are commercial – our favourite restaurant chains and retail stores – inviting us to spend our money, mostly on consumables. At the airport, we tend to eat, drink and shop simply because it’s there and we can. While this is good for airport business, it results in a lot of packaging and food waste that becomes the airports responsibility to deal with. Paying for safe disposal and limiting the impacts of waste generated from its public areas is an inconvenient truth for a modern airport.

Cape Town International Airport is no exception to the trend of international airports growing their commercial divisions and managing tenders for retail contracts.

However, as Africa’s leading airport situated in the Mother City, and in the green hub of the Western Cape, it is fully aware of its important role as a responsible business gateway. Along with growth, success and accolades comes greater scrutiny of its airport operations and responsibility to preserve and protect the environment in which its business is conducted.

As an airport, Cape Town International Airport has always regarded strict health, safety and environment compliance as core to its operations. In 2011 it received IS014001 accreditation for it’s environmental management system, but the airport’s leadership is aware that environmental sustainability requires more than ensuring routine audits are conducted and reports produced.

Operating within an increasingly rigorous environmental legal context, and serving a progressively demanding green public, Cape Town International Airport acknowledges it is not enough to merely manage sustainability issues on an operational level.

Long term strategic and business planning is critical for them to make meaningful strides in protecting, and enhancing, the airport environment and maintaining the

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sustainability of their business. Although increasing legislation is definitely putting more pressure on how airport operations are directed, moving beyond compliance towards sustainability means engaging all stakeholders to understand the issues and work together to provide solutions. Forcing people to change turns them away and encourages deviance, which ultimately makes little difference in the long term. Educating and empowering people, however, gives them options to choose to make better decisions.

With this in mind, a key element of the airport’s environmental management strategy is awareness and training of staff and stakeholders. Education is the key to change mindsets and, with Sustainability, it means helping people reconnect with nature and the effects of their actions. Since 2012, Cape Town International Airport staff and stakeholders have been involved in various interactive experiential learning interventions including training workshops, green expos with demonstrations and presentations, site visits and an annual campaign for World Environment Day. People learn quicker, and understand better, when they are encouraged to get involved and see for themselves.

Solid Waste Minimisation among food and beverage retailers is a specific target area for environmental awareness at Cape Town International Airport. It’s a huge challenge, as the objective of selling fast food is exactly ‘fast and furious’ – mostly processed food produced in high volumes, at great speed with plenty of waste products. Restaurants and fast-food outlets are responsible for most of the solid waste generated from the public areas at the airport in the form of food waste, cardboard and plastic packaging. Waste bins are taken to the airport’s on-site separation facility where a team of pickers from the waste removal service

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provider sort discarded materials by hand into recyclables and landfill waste. Through this system, Cape Town International Airport currently diverts between 55% and 60% of its waste from landfill. While well below a Zero Waste target of 90%, this figure is significantly above the current City of Cape Town average of around 27% waste diverted from landfill. It is important to note here that all waste removed from international airline flights is classified as hazardous waste due to its potential alien contaminants. By law it must be kept separate from domestic waste and landfilled, or disposed of, appropriately.

It is never sorted and added to local recycling streams.

The methodology used to implement environmental awareness and training at Cape Town International Airport has focused strongly on engaging stakeholders through interactive experiential learning interventions and promoting positive action. A key part of this has been to identify, support and highlight stakeholders who are greening their operations at the airport. Good ‘green’ stories are a regular feature of Cape Town International Airport’s external and internal media publications such as AirporTalk and Let’s Talk.

World Environment Day 2014 was celebrated with a Waste Minimisation Campaign.

A group of Cape Town International Airport airline and restaurant managers undertook a journey to trace the waste generated at the airport from the main terminal building, through the onsite separation facility and all the way to the City of Cape Town’s materials recovery facility (MRF) in Kraaifontein.

The campaign included a presentation by Alison Davison, the City’s Head of Waste Minimisation, and was hosted by the Soaring Hawk Spur, which is operated by Airport Retail Concessions Cape, one of Cape Town International Airport’s main food and beverage stakeholders. GreenCab, a bus

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service specializing in eco-friendly transport, provided transport for the group to the MRF and supplied a carbon emissions offset certificate for the trip.

Positive action around waste management is a feature of many retailers at Cape Town International Airport, especially those in the food and beverage areas. Those that have embraced changes include Spur, Mugg & Bean, Rhapsody’s (now the Alba Easy Lounge) and Boost Juice. Their stories are worth sharing.

Giving the planet a boost

As part of their daily routine, staff at Boost Juice set aside fruit peels for a local pig farmer who freely collects it to feed his animals. “Every day we generate 50 to 100 kilograms of fresh peels and pulp from our juices and smoothies,” says Boost Juice manager Tshego Mokoka. “This shouldn’t be thrown away, it’s food that can be put to good use.”

Removing all organic material from the general waste stream and diverting it from landfill is an important goal of the City of Cape Town’s Solid Waste Management Department. Currently, food leftovers and other ‘greens’ from both trade and household make up about 20% (400 000 tons) of total waste landfilled in the City every year.

Initiatives that divert organic waste to farms for animal feed or to composting facilities help stabilise the escalating costs of waste collection and transfer, and reduce the pressure on our already overfilled landfill sites.

“Keeping food scraps separate from other waste types in our kitchen also makes sorting other materials like paper, cardboard and plastic, for recycling, much easier as it reduces contamination. Boost is a naturally healthy and innovative brand, so we do our best to provide good quality, clean, dry plastic and cardboard for the airport’s recycling,” says Tshego.

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BAUBA MARUMO WASTE MANAGEMENT PTY (LTD) Bauba Marumo Waste Management PTY (Ltd) is a BBBEE waste management company established in 2003 that specialises in landfill operation, waste collection, treatment and collection of hazardous waste and management of salvage yards. Our current Clientele includes The Greater Tubatse Municipality, Anglo American, Rhino Minerals and other individual clients. We have employed more than 40 people.

Landfill Operation and Maintenance We have invested in proper machinery for the correct compaction of landfilled waste in order to achieve high compaction rates, save available landfill airspace and manage surface water.

Waste Collection and Transportation

We provide more than 200, 6m3 skip bins and 240 litre wheelie bins for the collection of solid & hazardous wastes.

Our waste collection vehicles include 2 x REL compacting trucks, 2 x skip bin loader with a trailer and a grab truck.

Management of Salvage Yards

We provide waste bins for waste salvage yards

Treatment and Transportation of Hazardous Waste Our drivers are trained to transport hazardous waste. We have a full time waste engineer to provide technical assistance. We provide onsite treatment of sewage sludge and oil contaminated waste.

Physical address: Office No. 9, Ma Magi Office Park, Burgersfort,1150 Postal address : P.O Box 202, Driekop, 1129 • E-mail address : baubamarumo@yahoo.com Tel : 013 231 7327 •Fax : 086 216 8435

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Raising the green bar Situated on the domestic airside, Alba Easy Lounge caters for the trendy eco-conscious movers and shakers of this world. In keeping with their mission to constantly raise the bar, Rhapsody’s passion for life and living is reflected in their commitment to ecological sustainability.

“Although we encourage our patrons to sit down, relax and enjoy the atmosphere of our stylish lounge; if they’re in a hurry, we offer them takeaways in our eco-friendly disposable containers with biodegradable cutlery and compostable coffee cups,” says Michelle Smit, Marketing & Communications Manager for Alba Easy Lounge, Cape Town International Airport.

Alba provides an environmentally responsible alternative to traditional single-use plastic packaging and food service utensils. Their clamshell food containers are all made from bagasse (sugarcane fibre), which is 100% biodegradable and compostable. Approved by the FDA, bagasse is chlorine free, suitable for hot or cold foods and microwave-and freezer-safe. Unlike polystyrene, a petroleum-based plastic that can cause widespread pollution by remaining in state for hundreds of years, bagasse breaks down with natural bacterial activity and will usually disappear completely within a few weeks.

Similarly, cutlery is made from renewable corn-starch, which has all the functionality of traditional plastic knives and forks, but will decay into nutrient-rich, natural material.

“Our disposable coffee cups,” explains Michelle, “are not polystyrene or even paper cups lined with plastic. We use Eco-cups made with FSC certified paper board from sustainably managed forests, and a corn lining.” The cups are 100% compostable and biodegradable, and will degrade naturally in a home or commercial composting facility.

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They offer environmental benefits, such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions and reduced dependence on fossil fuels.

Chips or salad? Spurring on the use of alternative fuels

A juicy burger, flame-grilled, spicy chicken or fillet of fish is just not the same without a big plate of chips. While the waiter may ask the question ‘…with chips or salad?’ how many of us, honestly, even if we choose the healthier greens, would always actually prefer the crisp, deep-fried chips?

Yet as delicious as fried potato chips are, many of us are now aware that the cooking oil used to deep-fry them, and other foods, is a major waste problem. In fact, in terms of the National Waste Act, all oils, including used cooking oil, fats and grease, are classified as hazardous waste.

This means that they should not enter the general waste stream or worse, be poured down any drain. By law, restaurants must make arrangements to have all waste oils collected and safely disposed of by an approved and registered professional contractor.

But you can rest assured that, while you’re enjoying your favourite meal at Cape Town International Airport’s Spur, Mugg & Bean, Barcelos and Ocean Basket, the staff at each of these restaurants are trying to save the planet. Not only do they store the used cooking oil for safe collection, they also ensure it’s taken away for recycling into biodiesel - a non-toxic, biodegradable alternative to petroleum.

Made from everyday, renewable resources, like vegetable oils or animal fats, biodiesel can power any diesel engine and help the environment at the same time. It cuts down on global warming, CO2 emissions, improves air quality and gives us just another reason to keep asking for chips!

THE VISION ZERO WASTE HANDBOOK

95

PROJECT PROFILES This section of the handbook is a series of case studies and project profiles submitted by our advertisers. It has been included in the Vision Zero Waste Handbook as a platform from which advertisers can showcase projects which more clearly demonstrate the products and services that they offer.

PROFILE CASE STUDY

Evaluating alternatives for the management of sewage sludge generated by the mines found in the Limpopo province Prepared by O.T Simelane, Bauba Marumo Waste Management PTY (Ltd), Office No.9 Ma Magi Office Park, Burgersfort 1150

1. Introduction Sewage sludge contains biodegradable solids and also pathogenic microorganisms that may cause diseases. According to the South African Minimum Requirements for Handling, Classification and Disposal of Hazardous Waste, any infectious substance and residue of infectious substance is classified according to SANS 10228 Hazard Classes as Class 6. The infectious Class 6 waste must be destroyed and its residues be landfilled in an H:H or H:h site.

The Limpopo province of South Africa for example does not have any hazardous waste disposal site. Most solid waste disposal sites found in Limpopo started as dumpsites and gradually improved services in order to meet the minimum requirements such as reporting to the South African Waste Information System. All hazardous waste generated in Limpopo must be exported for safe disposal at the nearest hazardous waste sites in the Gauteng province.

The provincial laws and waste acceptance procedures of Gauteng are different from Limpopo.

Furthermore the jurisdiction of each province does not extend to the other province. For example the Gauteng province has a new classification and assessment of the risk posed by the disposal of waste. The waste acceptance procedure for sewage sludge at Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality classifies sewage sludge as low risk waste that can be disposed in a GLB+ landfill in Rietfontein. However, the sewage sludge must be sterilized to kill about 99.99% of pathogenic microorganisms and must have very low leachable compounds.

2. The cost of managing sewage sludge in the Limpopo province The Limpopo province has the abundance of mineral wealth of the platinum group of metals.

The major mining activity occurs across the Greater Tubatse Local Municipality (GTLM) and Fetakgomo Local Municipality (FLM). The development of the mining industry has led to the rapid growth of economic activity and expansion of both formal and informal businesses. Each mining industry operates its own sewerage treatment plant. Most mines do not generate more than 6m3 of sewerage sludge per month. The monthly volumes of sewage sludge generated seems low, however, when left to accumulate on site the cost of disposal can escalate. There is, however, no appropriate site to dispose sewage sludge in Limpopo.

PROFILE CASE STUDY

Figure 1 - Treating composted sewage sludge with lime to raise pH prior to disposal

2.1 The sensitivity analysis of the cost of disposing sewerage sludge The GTLM and FLM are located at about 400 km from Rietfontein disposal site, which is the nearest appropriate GLB+ site for the disposal of sewage sludge. The cost of sewage sludge disposal consists of the following variables: • Laboratory and testing cost

• Transportation cost

• Treatment cost

• Disposal cost

The transport cost is the most sensitive cost and accounts for more than 90% of the total cost of disposal. So, does it mean that it is appropriate for each mining industry to develop its own sewage sludge disposal site? Or is there any other alternative use of the sludge such as application on the slopes of tailings dams or agricultural use?

2.2 Evaluating the alternatives of sewage sludge management The available alternatives that can be utilized in the mines to manage sewage sludge comprise of the following: A.

Dispose the waste in an appropriate GLB+ site in Gauteng

B.

Each mine constructs its own sewage sludge disposal site

C.

Find alternative uses of the sludge (e.g apply on tailings dams and agricultural projects found in local communities)

PROFILE CASE STUDY The table below presents an evaluation of the above 3 alternatives for the management of sewage sludge generated in the mines. The evaluation analyses the immediate and future costs implication and also management requirements EVALUATION CRITERIA Capital cost

SEWAGE SLUDGE MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVE A. Dispose waste in Gauteng

B. Construct own sewage sludge disposal site

C. Find alternative use (tailings / agriculture)

• None

• Develop a waste disposal site which is lined

• Develop a composting plant

• Provide servitudes such as electricity and water • Develop support structure such as fencing, laboratory, office, weighbridge Short term cost

Long term cost

• Laboratory and testing cost • Treatment cost • Transportation cost • Disposal cost

• Laboratory and testing cost • Treatment cost

• None

• Laboratory and testing cost

• Labour cost of a full-time site attendant • Require management of the site in the aftercare period of landfill, say more than 30 years • Most expensive in the short term • Has the highest cost of transportation

• Treatment cost • Minimal transportation cost

• Cost of monitoring and treating of gaseous and liquid emissions

Conclusions

• Laboratory and testing cost

• Requires high capital investment • There are management and long term cost, up to 30 years after site closure

• You get rid of the problem • There are no long term costs

• Cost of management and coordination of sewage sludge treatment and end use • Cost of maintaining the quality and standard of compost • There shall be a cost of managing some residual waste • Requires some capital investment • High operational skills and management cost are required to maintain compost quality • There shall be a need to dispose some residual amount of sewage sludge

Table 1 Analysis of the sewage sludge management alternatives Table 1 shows that although sending treated sewage sludge for disposal at the appropriate site in Rietfontein, Gauteng seems very expensive because of high transportation cost.

Erecting own disposal site is associated with more long term management costs.

A composting plant shall require a full-time site management in order to maintain compost quality particularly if the end use of the compost is for crop production.

PROFILE CASE STUDY

2.3 Requirements for the safe disposal of sewage sludge Before sending sewage sludge for disposal in an appropriate site in Gauteng the sludge must be treated. There is also a need to follow the paper work of the waste acceptance procedure.

Outlined below are the requirements and management procedure for the safe disposal of sewage sludge.

A. Discharge sewage sludge at the sewerage treatment plant on to drying beds •

Important parameters

•

Volume of drying pen

[V]

•

Discharge frequency

[T]

•

Drying pens must be maintained properly

•

Do not mix sewage sludge with other waste streams

B. Compost and dry sewerage sludge •

Composting stabilizes organic compounds, and reduces organic load, population of pathogens and leachable compounds

•

Compost sludge for a period of 8 to 16 weeks and maintain the compost by forking

C. Maintain quality of sewage sludge •

Send sludge sample for testing in an accredited laboratory

•

Dry sludge to a moisture content of less than 30%

•

Correct pH with lime to above 11

D. Follow waste acceptance procedure •

Perform an environmental risk assessment

•

Fill a waste acceptance question which commits the waste generator and transporter to take the waste to an appropriate site

•

Arrange with the operator of the disposal site to dispose the treated sludge

E. Load the sludge in proper waste bin, obtain the mass from a weighbridge and transport to the appropriate site F. Obtain a Safe Disposal Certificate G. Report to the South African Waste Information System

CASE STUDY PROFILE

3. Conclusion It looks very expensive in the short-term to transport sewerage sludge, which is generated by the mines found in the Greater Tubatse and Fetakgomo local municipalities in Limpopo, for disposal in an appropriate site in Gauteng.

However, currently it is the most convenient and cost effective alternative for sewerage sludge disposal. Compared to developing own disposal site for each mine, disposing in an established site does not have any costs of capital investment and long-term management.

The local negative environmental impacts are also minimal.

Composting is another option for sewage sludge management, however, there is a need for a full time attendant in order to maintain compost quality and comply with environmental requirements. It makes more sense and with a much sound economies of scale for the individual mines to pool resources and appoint a service provider to establish a hazardous waste site. Not only sewerage sludge can be disposed in the new hazardous waste site but also other hazardous waste streams, which are problematic in the mines, can be disposed safely.

Physical address: Office No. 9, Ma MagI Office Park, Burgersfort,1150 Postal address: P.O Box 202, Driekop, 1129 E-mail address: baubamarumo@yahoo.com Tel: 013 231 7327

www.baubamarumo.co.za

Innovative, sustainable waste management solutions Aurecon’s value proposition constitutes a range of waste management services provided on a global scale. By adopting an innovative approach to planning and implementation, Aurecon ensures that our clients receive the best possible input. Aurecon offers our waste management services to many stakeholders in government, mining and industrial sectors, as well as manufacturing, petrochemical and agro-processing industries.

Some of the noteworthy waste management projects we have been involved in recently include: Consolidated design for Exxaro Temporary Hazardous storage facility and Tyre Storage area at Grootegeluk Mine Grootegeluk mine had two temporary hazardous waste storage areas which were not compliant with environmental requirements. Aurecon provided the design for a consolidated hazardous waste storage area for temporary storage until transported to licensed disposal facility and a tyre storage area. In addition, Aurecon also provided environmental management, asset management and waste management design services on the project.

Thorough analysis for Gauteng Medical Waste Facility for waste from public facilities The Innovation Hub Management Company identified the need to investigate the treatment options and relevant costs for healthcare risk waste treatment in Gauteng. Aurecon was appointed to build a commercial and business case for this project. Included in the mandate, Aurecon was required to identify and analyse clean technologies, provide general site assessment analysis and conduct a routing assessment.

Waste management study and cost benefit analysis for George Municipality George Municipality appointed Aurecon to assist with the compilation of a feasibility study for its solid waste division. The project entailed the evaluation of the status quo waste management process and based on the findings, the development of a cost benefit model for the evaluation of future waste management and transportation strategies. Part of the proposed assessment was to look into the cost benefit of the regional versus local waste facility.

Transnet Ports Terminal waste management strategy Aurecon developed the ports waste management strategy and assessed each port individually to create a port specific waste management strategy. Extensive consultation with port personnel, research on international practices and review of current practices was part of the undertaking. Aspects such as waste storage and handling of waste were a focus area to demonstrate initiatives towards sustainable solutions and waste minimization.

For more information on our Waste Management services, please contact Nick Mannie Technical Director, Waste T +27 12 427 2000 E wastemanagement@aurecongroup.com

PROFILE

Waste ‘Matters’ Period!

The matter of waste is some thorny issue, especially in the modern day South Africa. Through the history of human civilization, some societies at the peak of their development have collapsed due to inadequate management of their accumulating waste burden and the resultant proliferation of disease, environmental degradation and ultimate impact on their ability to produce and reproduce effectively. The rapidly growing, urbanizing and consumerist population in the world in which the ability of the environment to absorb solid and liquid waste is finite and therefore an apt reminder of the challenges we face today. The waste matter that we end up disposing represents a liability that we pass on to future generations, and the manner in which we manage and dispose of our waste tells a crucial story about our level of response to these constraints, and will be a key determinant of the nature of our future society.

Funani Environmental Management Solutions (Funani EMS) is at the forefront of the waste matters with a view to bridge a gap between the developers (public and private), licensing and the authorizing government departments, thus providing holistic cutting-edge solutions while enshrining principles of environmental sustainability.

This was evident when this company assisted the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality in Middelburg obtain its Waste License Application (WLA) from the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) for the extension of the Middelburg Landfill Site. The activity involved extending the current landfill site in order to increase the lifespan of the site while investigating alternative measures for waste disposal. An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was undertaken in order to assess the potential environmental and related impacts of the proposed extension in terms of EIA Regulations R543.

Location of a residential settlement, presence of a stream and mining activities, informal recyclers within the existing landfill, among others within the vicinity of the existing landfill and proposed extension are some of the dynamics that had to be considered.

Contact us on 011 023 0677 or Mbali 078 940 2331 info@funaniems.co.za

www.funaniems.co.za

PROFILE

Environmental testing Laboratory Talbot Laboratories is an independent, commercial ISO 17025 accredited environmental laboratory, which specialises in the chemical and microbiological analysis of water, wastewater and solid waste. The Laboratory was awarded its accreditation through the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) in 2005 for water and wastewater analyses, and continues to successfully maintain this status through its consistently high standard of operation. The accreditation of the Laboratory ensures that the analytical methods used and the results achieved are traceable to international standards. Regular internal and third-party audits are conducted to ensure adherence to the standard. The Laboratory tests water, wastewater and solid waste samples across a diverse range of industries and municipal applications.

We pride ourselves in quality and service delivery Our four competent and dedicated teams within the laboratory (Quality, Technical, Sales and Customer Care) deliver an efficient and effective service encompassing the whole water analysis Laboratory experience from sales to meaningful results to our customers.

Satellite Laboratories Talbot Laboratories opened its first satellite laboratory in Port Elizabeth in 2007.

This laboratory focuses not only on microbiological analyses, but serves as a depot for the Eastern Cape region. We also plan to have other satellite Laboratories or depots in the Western Cape and Gauteng regions soon.

OUR SERVICES:

Water and wastewater analysis •Potable water (including bottled water) •Groundwater & surface water analysis •Industrial effluent analysis •Sewage works monitoring analysis

Waste analysis •Landfill leachate analysis •Solid/liquid waste assessment •Sewage sludge classification

Specialised services •Blue drop and Green drop testing & reporting •Marine sediment analyses •HACCP swab analyses •Mercury analyses for solid samples using the Direct Mercury Analyser (DMA)

Contact us on 033 346 1444 or talbot@talbot.co.za

www.talbot.co.za

PROFILE

Ingwe Waste Management evolved out of the need for Historical Disadvantaged Individuals (HDI’s) to participate in the professional Waste Management sector.

We specialize in all sectors of waste management from: • Recycling • Skip services • Landfill management • Landfill rehabilitation • Landfill permitting • Cleaning of illegally dumped refuse • Cleanup campaigns and projects • On Site Waste Management Systems

• Domestic collection and transportation • Commercial collection and transportation • Industrial collection and transportation • Transfer facility Operations • Medical waste collection and incineration • Hazardous waste – limited • Special events and clean-ups • Skill Development and training

We guarantee smooth implementation of projects in respect of technical sustainability, management control systems, community projects, social responsibility and care for the environment, this is accomplished by linking our technical know-how and skills with local professional institutions like the Institute of Waste Management and the South African Waste Management Employers Association. Supporting the use of first world standards in waste management, waste collection and transportation equipment and the recruitment of local personnel for all local contracts as part of our upliftment policy.

The foundation of our philosophy is that we believe the world needs to re-look at the way it deals with waste, with the evolving demands on the environment and the increasing number of waste that requires advanced technology, innovation methodology and diligent implementation.

Our promise to our clients and community is that we are committed to being an environmentally responsible organisation and believe that there should be an ethical relationship between humans and the environment, and we have therefore structured our environmental policy accordingly.

Ingwe Waste Management is committed to providing accessible, affordable and innovative waste management services, while protecting its clients and shareholders through strong governance practices.

We adhere to the health and safety regulations of South Africa, and work without causing any harm to people or the environment. We practice sustainability and interact pro-actively with our clients to assist them with the reduction in the volume of waste to landfill. We aim to make a difference through corporate donations, sponsorships and the volunteering spirit of our employees. http://www.ingwewaste.co.za/

PROFILE Mashinini Enterprise Trust has extensive experience in the operations and maintenance of the Bethlehem Landfill site. We did the total operations and all the maintenance for the Bethlehem Landfill Site for three years (Nov 2010–Nov 2013) . During this period, the Landfill Site was evaluated by the Department Environmental Affairs and was found to be in a good and well maintained state.

Daily Activities And Waste Management:

We will monitor the quality of the compacted material in the Landfill and make sure it’s not too soft as the future stability of the landfill may become a risk. The landfill is originally designed for a particular capacity in terms of volume so the waste is to be compacted correctly so that the volume of the landfill is not reached prematurely. We own more than the required plant and is more than capable to maintain and operate the required plant, the necessary plant is readily available.

• • • • • •

Landfill Compactor – Compact waist on the cells D6 Bulldozer – Push cover material over compacted waist 20 Ton Excavator – Maintain the storm water channels TLB – Load cover from the stockpile as and when needed.

Tip Tuck – Transport cover to the waist on the cells Grader – maintenance of the gravel roads.

The management of the cover materials is very important to ensure the landfill will reach its full intended lifespan. With this said, the placement of the cover material on a daily basis is extremely important to ensure the landfill remains odorless, free of insects and free from rubble blowing all over the site. We intend to focus on the economical but correct use of the cover materials. The general condition of the storm water channels must be in an excellent condition at all times. This will ensure that clean storm water remains clean and that the contaminated water can be directed to the correct areas.

We plan to clean and shape the channels at least once a year.

Community Involvement:

Various service providers will be utilized to ensure the community benefits from the operations of the landfill site: • Local security will be incorporated.

• The community will also be responsible for the recycling of usable materials from the waste before it reaches the work-face.

• Innovative ideas concerning the use of old tires can be discussed with the community to generate an alternative income for some of the community members. Tires could be used turned into swings or barriers at crèches Feed-holders for cattle could be manufactured out of old tires. We will assist in the manufacturing of these products.

• The transport of the recyclable material collected by the locals will be transported for free for the first year of the contract as part of local community empowerment.

PROFILE

REDISA management system wins international award The Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of South Africa (REDISA) has been recognised for its innovative and efficient management systems in South Africa, it is estimated that we have millions of waste tyres lying in dumps and stockpiles or scattered across the country in residential, industrial and rural areas. Almost 10 million waste tyres are added to this number every year. While some of these waste tyres make their way to recycling facilities via a formal and informal network of collectors, many of them are burned for their scrap metal content, releasing toxic fumes and liquids in the process and impacting the health of those nearby. Over the last year REDISA has continued to develop the required infrastructure to set up a new tyre recycling industry, and in turn create jobs nationally. To meet its mandate in terms of understanding the issue of historical waste tyres in the country, and to effectively establish the new tyre recycling industry, implementation of a sophisticated management system was required.

A year down the line, REDISA has gained international recognition for its system by winning the 2014 Oracle Sustainability Innovation Award. The award recognises the innovative use of technology to address the global sustainability challenge. The Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of South Africa is the plan approved by Government to remediate the environment with regards to tyre waste, through the development of a new tyre recycling industry. One of the important elements of REDISA management systems is comprehensive and geo-located data collection. In order to understand the extent of the waste tyre problem in the country, REDISA deployed a mapping system which has helped to identify the sources of waste tyres such as tyre dealers, and waste tyre stockpiles. As of end of July, 1089 waste tyre collection points and 96 stockpiles have been identified and mapped thanks to the system. Already, after less than 18 months of operation, over 50% of tyre dealers nationally are being serviced, and 1080 jobs have been created.

REDISA firmly believes in the growth of the country and this can be seen by its drive to create job and entrepreneurial opportunities. REDISA plans to employ 1500 people in 2014, with its vision ultimately being to create 10 000 new jobs by 2017. Furthermore, using software tools, REDISA is able to track carbon emissions created by the transport network of owner managed businesses.

The initiative is also able to report on the emissions created by the processing facilities as a result of the tyres delivered to their premises.

The award presentation will take place in San Francisco on 1 October 2014.

PROFILE

Our packaging isn’t rubbish Nampak’s Waste Management Story Many people are under the impression that packaging is a major contributor to the waste stream in South Africa. This isn’t really the case, in fact the total waste to landfill is 107 million tons of which packaging accounts for just 1,82 million tons.

According to the Packaging SA, industry initiatives like Collect-a-Can, PETCO and the Glass Recycling Company, are major contributors to this positive performance. If they weren’t in place, Packaging SA estimates that packaging waste to landfill would be 6,08 million tons. 200% more than current levels.

Environmental benefits of packaging are: protects products to prevent their deterioration, which means less waste. It enables easier handling for transportation, which means less carbon emissions and congestion. It is used as a marketing platform to communicate key messages regarding the need to reuse, recycle and recover.

Glass

As founding member of the Glass Recycling Company we participate in many socio-economic programmes.

We proudly operate a state-of-the-art cullet processing plant, which purchases over 80 000 tons of waste glass from over 4 000 SMME suppliers.

Our glass containers have at least 55% cullet, which as a result we have cut 6,5% of our carbon emissions and energy consumption.

This number will improve when our third furnace comes on line.

Metal

Plastic

In Southern Africa, over We developed SA’s first 72% of beverage cans ever multi layer plastic are recycled. bottle for long life milk, 100% recyclable, Collect-a-Can is a joint including cap and label. venture between Nampak and Arcelor Mittal.

From 1993 to 2013, our Megapak manufactures collective investment was reusable plastic crates R725 million. and drums, that are moulded from 100% Nampak Bevcan, is in recycled HDPE. the process of completing the conversion from It takes 615 large empty steel to aluminium chip bags or 1179 small beverage cans. empty chip bags to make a set of one desk Aluminium has a highand two chairs. er intrinsic scrap value, which will increase the recycling rate of metals. Since Nov 2012, Nampak Flexible and Simba It’s 60% lighter than steel have helped Green and uses 10% less energy Office deliver 700 desks in the manufacturing and 1400 chairs to disprocess. 30% of plastic advantaged schools packaging in SA is around the country. recycled.

Paper

62% of paper in South Africa is recycled.

We collect about 19% of the total paper recycled in South Africa. Then reuse it in our paper mills for a wide range of corrugated cartons and personal hygiene products, such as tissues and toilet paper.

Our 10kg potato bag from Nampak Sacks is 12,5% lighter, while our cement bags are 100% compostable.

We are members of the Paper Manufacturers Association of SA (PAMSA), and Paper Recycling Association of SA (PRASA).

PROFILE

HotRot Organic Solutions is a privately held New Zealand-based company which has operated in the global organic waste sector since 2003.

We have installed organic waste treatment plants in over 12 countries worldwide, and we are currently engaged in expansion activities in the USA, Canada, and Asia Pacific region.

HotRot has also supplied its in-vessel composting equipment to projects in South Africa and Guinea, in association with its Africa region agent, Closing the Loop.

HotRot designs, builds, installs and commissions organic waste treatment plants.

Their modular, scalable equipment options are suited to green field sites, or as an upgrade to existing waste processing facilities. Specialised applications of HotRot technology include solutions for source separated organics (SSO), sludge or biosolids, diapers (nappies) and absorbent hygiene waste (AHW). The HotRot in-vessel composting (IVC) system is also ideal for on-site composting of food and organic waste at shopping centres, hotels, resorts, zoos, remote work camps (mining, oil & gas, game reserves etc) and in local communities. Our installations can be supplied with a contractual odour free guarantee, meaning that the equipment can be operated in close proximity to other activities. The HotRot system does not produce leachate and it does not require much electricity (the heat is generated by the compost process itself). The HotRot system is simple to operate; it requires minimal space, labour and maintenance.

Local and Africa Projects The Grabouw Waste Water Treatment Works is situated about three-quarters of an hour outside of Cape Town. A recent upgrade included a HotRot 3518, which is capable of processing over 10 tonnes of organic waste per day. An innovative waste water treatment design (by Gibb) involves taking dewatered sludge directly from the incoming sewage, and composting it together with chipped garden waste. This reduces the load on the Works, resulting in significant electricity savings and better water quality at the point of discharge into the environment. Instead of producing sludge, compost is now produced by the Works, which can be utilised beneficially by both the municipality and local farmers. Closing the Loop is the technology partner of a project called Waste to Food. Waste to Food will use HotRot 1811 IVC units (and associated ancillary equipment) to process retail food waste.

The compost produced will be fed to earthworms in an industrial-scale earthworm composting system known as the Worm Hammock. This project will be structured as a Enterprise Development opportunity for entrepreneurs from low-income communities in the Philippi area (Cape Town), via a micro-franchise model. Waste to Food recently received a SEED Award as an “exceptional social and environmental start-up enterprise”. www.waste-to-food.co.za Social and Environmental benefits Waste to Food project highlights the benefits that can be achieved from composting organic wastes which would otherwise be sent to landfill. The World is rapidly running out of the fossil fuels, which modern agriculture relies on heavily to support ‘Green Revolution’ yields.

Our future well-being requires that we conserve resources, prevent pollution and reduce damage to ecosystems. Sustainable Agriculture and our future Food Security require that we build soil fertility and use organic plant pest and disease controls. The HotRot in-vessel composting system allows processing of challenging organic wastes, and is able to unlock social and environmental benefits.

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS COMPANY

PAGE

Aurecon

2; 103

Bauba Marumo Waste Management (Pty) Ltd Chemical & Allied Industries Association Extrupet Funani EMS G & W Mineral Resources

94; 98-102 70-71 114 4; 104 16

HotRot Organic Solutions

82; 110

Ingwe Waste Management (Pty) Ltd

50; 106

Limpopo Water Initiative Mashinini Enterprise Trust Nampak Packaging Company National Recycling Forum (NRF) Packaging Council of South Africa Pikitup PPC Cement REDISA Talbot & Talbot Pty Ltd Vuna Industrial (Pty) Ltd

60-61 76; 107 109; OBC 10 8 IFC; 1 6 108; IBC 14; 105 18

THE VISION ZERO WASTE HANDBOOK

111

EVERY TYRE REMEDIATED MAKES A DIFFERENCE REDISA plans to potentially offset 178 500 tonnes of carbon emissions in 2014.

A tree can absorb as much as 21.8kg of carbon dioxide per year, and with age, it absorbs even more each year.

By the time it reaches 40 years old it will have consumed 1 tonne of carbon dioxide, according to North Carolina State University. Through the remediation of waste tyres the Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of South Africa (REDISA) has potentially offset 67 289 tonnes of carbon emissions since beginning operations a year ago – what would have taken one tree 3 086 years to achieve.

These calculations are based on the presumption that all waste tyres remediated by REDISA would have been burned ­ a trend which has become prevalent in our communities where tyres are burned either for warmth or to remove the steel wire which is sold.

“Unfortunately, the burning of tyres affects the most vulnerable in society as it is most prevalent in townships.

Further to the carbon emissions, there are also severe health risks involved with tyre burning. Tyres contain toxic and carcinogenic gases which can cause cancer and lung­ related diseases,” said REDISA Director, Stacey Davidson.

“Due to these issues, clearing townships of tyre waste is an important focus for REDISA. Through job creation opportunities provided by the REDISA Plan, we are working hard to achieve our goal of ensuring that waste tyres do not continue to pollute the environment.”

Since it became operational in July 2013, REDISA has remediated 32 573 tonnes of tyres, and 1080 new jobs have been created by the initiative.

REDISA plans to potentially offset 178 500 tonnes of carbon emissions in 2014.

WW W.R EDI SA.ORG.ZA

The Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of South Africa (REDISA) is a non-profit organisation whose aim it is to develop a sustainable South African tyre recycling industry through an Integrated Industry Waste Tyre Management Plan (IIWTMP).

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