A critical reflection on the evolution of the South African National Waste Management Strategy

Abstract

In redressing global and local waste management challenges, many countries developed and implemented integrated waste management systems through policies, laws and strategies. The aim of this study is to evaluate the evolution of the South African National Waste Management Strategy (NWMS) from its inception in 1999 to the current 2020 NWMS. The study also aimed to compare the evolution of the South African NWMS with international waste management policies, laws and strategies. The comparative process included two developed countries, namely the Netherlands and Taiwan, and two developing countries namely, Thailand and Nigeria. This study made use of critical document review and analysis, supported by literature review and a comparative analysis to mainly evaluate the evolution of the following: the focus of strategic goals and objectives; the approach towards implementing the waste management hierarchy as well as the thematic content. The comparative analysis with other countries’ waste management laws, policies and strategies included a review of the key principles underpinning integrated waste management, as outlined in the documents under review. The results of the research demonstrate the progressive evolution of the South African NWMS from 1999 to 2020 compares well with the evolution of other developing and developed countries. Progressive advancements include critical aspects such as an integrated approach to pollution prevention and integrated waste management. This is underpinned by the incorporation of the waste hierarchy at its core, with the end goal to develop a circular economy. To achieve stated goals and objectives, the policies and strategies highlight the importance of government, civil society and private business acting as a collective. In terms of its documented contents to give effect to the terms of the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act 59 of 2008), the South African NWMS 2020 as well as the laws, policies and strategies from other countries, are progressively moving towards “zero waste” goals and the overall improvement of integrated waste management.