REVISED WASTE CLASSIFICATION AND

MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR SOUTH

AFRICA
National Waste Classification and
Management Regulations & Standards
Stakeholder Workshop
30 July 2010
WASTE CLASSIFICATION
& MANAGEMENT
REGULATIONS
 National WCM Regulations
AIM: To formalise relevant provisions of the
Revised Waste Classification & Management
System into the SA legislative framework.

MAIN PURPOSE:
o Consider higher order management options for
waste in line with the waste management
hierarchy.
o Establish a mechanism and procedure for the
approval of beneficial waste management activities.
o Prescribe specific requirements for waste
management.
Supported by National Standards
Standard for Leach Tests and Waste Risk
Profiling – Leach test methodology, contaminant
concentration thresholds & waste risk profiling.

Standard for the Disposal of Waste to Landfill –

Landfill acceptance criteria & Waste disposal
restrictions.
 Part 1: Interpretation, Purpose &
Application
 Definitions
 Regulations do not apply to:
o Generators of domestic waste.
 Purpose:
o Regulate beneficial waste management activitieswast
o Promote the waste management hierarchy.
o Establish a mechanism for the efficient approval of activities that facilitate
waste minimisation & diversion from landfill.
o Prescribe requirements for waste classification, waste categorisation and
assessment of risk associated with disposal.
o Prescribe requirements for transport, handling & storage, including
tracking of waste.
o Prescribe requirements for the management of waste, including landfill
acceptance criteria & disposal restrictions.
Part 2: Classification & Categorisation
Classify i.t.o. SANS10234-GHS.
Schedule 1 lists Pre-Classified waste (general,
hazardous) that don’t need classification.
If hazardous – develop SDS i.t.o.
SANS10234-GHS & Label containers
appropriately.
Categorise waste i.t.o. WIS Regulations
(Types of waste).
 Schedule 1: Pre-classified waste

General Waste Hazardous Waste

- Domestic waste; - Health Care Risk Waste (HCRW);
- Building and Demolition Waste; - Asbestos Waste.
- Inert waste;
- Waste tyres.
 Part 3: Waste Management
Evaluate waste management options i.t.o. waste
hierarchy.
Implement if available & feasible, at licensed facility.
Consider any Norms and Standards related to the
waste management activity.
Treatment provisions:
o No dilution or reducing potential for RRR, or
o No temporary masking of characteristics.
If disposal remains the only option – determine the
Waste Risk Profile (all waste, except domestic,
builders rubble & inert), and dispose in
accordance with Landfill Standard.
 Part 4: Beneficial Waste Management
Activities
 Mechanism & procedure for efficient ‘approval’ of waste resource
utilisation & other beneficial waste management activities.
 Effected through the Minister:
o Listing the activity as not requiring a licence, and
o Setting the requirements or standards the activity is subject to.
 NEMWA 19(1) & 19(3): The Minister may list activities & must indicate
whether a licence is required, and if not, the requirements or standards
that must be complied with instead.
 NEMWA S20(1): No person may undertake a waste activity, except in
accordance with the requirements or standards determined in terms of
S19(3) for that activity;
 Mechanism in the Regulations includes ability of any person to
motivate to the Minister, and specifies the information required.
 Fundamental: For beneficial activities that can be consistently
implemented without health or environmental risk, and controlled
through any requirements or standards.
 Possible Beneficial Activities
 Waste Management Procedures:
o Refers to operations & management procedures.
o Risk related to emergency/accident/upsets; no continuous impact if
procedures followed.
o Focus on process, standard operating procedures, design standards, EMP
(could be existing).
o E.g: drum reconditioning, car wrecking, transfer stations for recyclables,
temporary used oil storage (bulking).
 Beneficial Utilisation of Waste:
o Re-use, recycling, re-use & recovery – large waste streams.
o Potential risk to health & environment that needs to be assessed – worst
case – more detailed than above.
o Issues not only operational- include thresholds, inputs, technology
(focussed on the waste, inputs & outputs), emissions.
o E.g: Application to land (road building, fertiliser); Reuse in end-products
(bricks, aggregate in concrete, extenders); Energy or raw material
recovery/substitution (incl. thermal recovery)
Part 5: Record Keeping & Waste Manifest

Requirements for records of waste

generation (types & quantities) and
management thereof.
Requirement for maintaining a waste
manifest system – Specific information
requirements for generator, transporter &
waste manager listed in Schedule 2 of the
Regulations.
 Transitional Arrangements
 Promulgation – January 2011
 Regulation 4 (Waste Classification)- simultaneously with classification
of MR – 1 year.
 Regulation 5 (Waste Categorisation) – 6 months after National Waste
Information Regulations, 2010.
 Regulation 6 (Safety Data Sheets), Regulation 7 (Labelling of
Hazardous Waste) & Regulation 8(1) (Waste to be classified and
categorised prior to acceptance by waste transporter and manager) -
after 1 year.
 Regulation 12 (Waste Disposal) - simultaneously with waste disposal &
landfill design requirements of MR - 18 months for hazardous waste &
3 years for general waste. Subject to requirements & timeframes of
Waste Management Standards.
 Regulation 15 (Records of Waste Generation and Management) - 6
months after National Waste Information Regulations, 2010.
 Regulation 16 (Waste Manifest System) – after 1 year.
 THANK YOU

Nomphelo Daniel
Deputy Director: Hazardous Waste Management

 ndaniel@environment.gov.za
Tel:  +27 (0)12 310 3904