Compliance
Responsible Waste Management: What Businesses Need to Know
Waste management is not only about keeping a site clean. Businesses also have a responsibility to understand how the waste they generate is handled. South Africa’s waste management framework is governed primarily by the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act 59 of 2008), as amended, together with regulations, norms and standards that apply to different waste activities and waste streams.
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Start by knowing your waste
Different waste streams can carry different legal
and operational requirements. Businesses should
understand:
01
How it is classified
02
How it should be stored
03
Who collects it
04
Where it goes
05
How it is treated, recovered or disposed of
Keep the right records?
Depending on the type of waste and activity involved, documentation and reporting requirements may apply. Good waste records also provide businesses with a clearer view of what they generate and where opportunities for reduction and recovery exist.
Handle hazardous waste carefully
Hazardous waste requires particular attention. It should be identified and managed through the appropriate handling, storage, transport and treatment or disposal processes.
Know your service providers
Responsible waste management does not end when waste leaves your premises. Businesses should understand where their waste is going and whether it is being managed through appropriate facilities and service providers.
Compliance should be part of the system
Good compliance is easier when it is built into day-to-day operations rather than addressed only when an audit approaches. Know your waste. Know where it goes. Keep the right records.
Waste requirements vary depending on the waste stream and activity involved. Businesses should obtain appropriate advice where specific regulatory requirements apply
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