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The Future of Plastic Waste in South Africa: Presentation to Waste Colloquium

This presentation provides an overview of key policies, legislation, and regulations related to plastic waste in South Africa. It examines plastic flows in the country, identifies key stakeholders, and discusses strategies for prevention, monitoring, and awareness. The presentation also explores end-of-life management options and outlines a way forward for effective plastic waste management in South Africa.

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The Future of Plastic Waste in South Africa: Presentation to Waste Colloquium

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  1. BRANCH : CHEMICALS AND WASTE MANAGEMENTTHE FUTURE OF PLASTIC WASTE IN SOUTH AFRICA PRESENTATION TO WASTE COLLOQUIUM

  2. OUTLINE OF THE PRESENTATION • Introduction and background • Key policies, legislation and regulations • Plastic Flows in South Africa • Key stakeholders • Strategy (Prevention, Monitoring & Awareness) • End-of-life management options • Way forward

  3. INTRODUCTION • Global plastic use continues to increase, ~4% per annum, with 322 million tonnes produced worldwide in 2015 (Plastics Europe, 2016). • Production of plastics accounted for 4 to 8% of global fossil fuel use in 2015 (World Economic Forum et al., 2016, Plastics Europe, 2016, Al-Salem et al., 2009). • Whilst South Africa accounts for less than 0.5% of global plastics production, this still amounts to 1.5 million tonnes of plastics consumed in South Africa annually (Plastics SA, 2016b).

  4. BACKGROUND • Plastics SA reports that South Africa currently recycles 21% of plastics consumed in the country (including plastics exported for recycling), while the remainder is disposed of in landfills (Plastics SA, 2016a). • Alternative end of life practices: • Incineration with energy recovery • recycling practices allow for value recovery whilst reducing the demand for new plastic resin (and the fossil fuels used to produce them)

  5. BACKGROUND

  6. BACKGROUND • The uncontained plastic litter affects the overall image of regions and results in the need for expensive clean-up operations (EPWP: Working for Coasts). • South Africa has been ranked 11th in the world for mass of mismanaged plastic waste, with 56% of plastic waste estimated to be mismanaged in the country (Jambeck et al., 2015). • Improved collection and sorting systems, recycling operations and energy recovery processes

  7. BACKGROUND • A MOU was signed between government, labour and business that, amongst other things, stipulated that standards would be developed for a minimum percentage of recyclate content for plastic garbage bags and bin liners. • Following on from this agreement, the Plastic Bag Regulations were promulgated in May 2003, as was the Department of Trade and Industry’s Compulsory Specification For Plastic Carrier Bags and Flat Bags in June 2003. • In 2012 SABS developed a National Standard for Garbage Bags and Bin Liners, SANS 1264:2012. This Standard prescribes that garbage bags and bin liners are made of a min of 10% post-consumer recyclate. However, through the consultative process in support of legislating this standard, the plastics industry expressed concerns as to whether there is sufficient post-consumer recyclate to meet the minimum content requirements.

  8. KEY POLICY / LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT 2014 NEM: Waste Amendment Act PCBs Regs 2011 National Domestic Waste Collection Standards 2016 Pricing Strategy S 28 Notice: Paper and Packaging & electronic IndWMPs (compulsory EPR schemes) 1998 NEMA 2000 Integrated Pollution and Waste Management Policy 2008 Waste Act 2003 Plastic Bag Regs 2012 National Waste Management Strategy 2001 Polokwane Declaration

  9. PLASTIC FLOWS IN SOUTH AFRICA

  10. PLASTIC FLOWS IN SOUTH AFRICA

  11. PLASTIC FLOWS IN SOUTH AFRICA

  12. PLASTIC FLOWS IN SOUTH AFRICA • Emphasis on flow of short-lived plastics through the economy due to their consistent presence • Packaging comprises the majority of short-lived plastic products: - Low Density PolyEthylene (LDPE) & High Density PolyEthylene (HDPE) mainly for plastic bags flows are being analysed in order to inform the recyclate content standard - PolyEthylene Terephthalate (PET) and Polypropylene (PP): Soft drinks packaging and textiles - Polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chlorine (PVC) and bio-plastics significance for environmental benefits - Microbeads in cosmetics (marine impacts) and interaction with Dept of Health on Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act amendment • Plastics in electronic products

  13. KEY STAKEHOLDERS • DEA, the dti, DST, DoH, Provincial Depts of Environment and Municipalities • Waste Management Bureau • Industry (Packaging SA, Plastics SA, PETCO, CTFA, Recyclers, Importers, Exporters, Manufacturers, Retailers, etc.) • Civil Society • Researchers • CSIR, SARS, SABS, NRCS

  14. GENERAL WASTE BY MANAGEMENT OPTION (2011)

  15. STRATEGY FOR CWM Strategy for CWM (NWMS) • Goal 1: Waste minimization and 3R key interventions IndWMP for paper & packaging Buy-back centres (WoW) • Goal 2: Waste services delivery key interventions National Domestic Waste Collection Standards Support to 27 Districts (MIG use for waste movable plant)

  16. STRATEGY FOR CWM Strategy for CWM (NWMS) • Goal 3: Key interventions on growing the contribution of waste to Green economy Preparation for the chemicals and waste economy phakisa • Goal 4: Key interventions on awareness of waste impacts Awareness campaigns and Greenest Municipality Competition Recycling programs by schools

  17. STRATEGY FOR CWM Strategy for CWM (NWMS) • Goal 5: Integrated Waste Management Planning key interventions SAWIS regulations Waste baseline information (at least every 5 years) National, Provincial & Municipal IWMPs • Goal 6: Budgeting and financial management for waste services Waste tariff setting tool MIG for movable plant (compactors and waste collection trucks)

  18. STRATEGY FOR CWM Strategy for CWM (NWMS) • Goal 7: Contaminated land remediation Funding and programme for asbestos remediation Mine residue deposits • Goal 8: Compliance and Enforcement with NEMWA Communication and awareness on hotline Support Provinces/Municipalities on licencing of unauthorized sites EMIs capacity building

  19. END-OF-LIFE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS • The applicability of the various end-of-life technologies is strongly linked to the polymer type • Management options for waste plastics, covering mechanical recycling, tertiary recycling and energy recovery • Options for waste sorting and collection, as the degree to which these are carried out strongly affects the success of recycling and certain energy recovery options • Product design:

  20. Wash (optional) Size reduction Wash and dry Pelletize 1 END-OF-LIFE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS Wash (optional) Size reduction Agglomerate Pelletize 2 Size reduction Agglomerate Wash and dry 3 Size reduction Agglomerate 4

  21. END-OF-LIFE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS

  22. END-OF-LIFE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS

  23. WAY FORWARD • Compulsory Separation of waste at source regulatory tool (2017/18 APP) • The Paper & Packaging IndWMP will assist with separate collection, sorting and treatment (3Rs)

  24. THANK YOU

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