On Tuesday evening, Dierdre Nxumalo-Freeman, new President of the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA), officially opened the Institute’s biannual conference and exhibition, WasteCon. The event is being held in the ICC in East London and although the weather has not held up for delegates and exhibitors, it has certainly not dampened their spirits.
The theme for 2012, Wrestling with Waste is apt, says Nxumalo-Freeman. “During the WasteCon proceedings, these challenges will be unpacked as well as the lessons learnt.”Delegates agree. Some are of the opinion that the structure does not follow through from the legislation to the municipal bylaws and the implementation of these.
Jenny Miller, sales manager: ReSource, and Deidre Nxumalo-Freeman, IWMSA president
According to Nxumalo-Freeman, IWMSA should become “increasingly instrumental in facilitating dialogue and action amongst key stakeholders in the industry; encouraging others with the same vision and concerns to work together for the greater good of effective and sustainable waste management.
And this is exactly the kind of platform that WasteCon offers. With roughly 70 exhibitors, inside and outside the centre, the level of services and information sharing is high. Some stands, including those of the CSIR, also include scientific research published on posters which are available to delegates and exhibitors alike, to peruse. One of these, for example, is a brand new composting solution for organic waste which covers all avenues of composting, amongst others. This type of information is vital to municipalities and waste management companies as it allows them to innovate and minimise waste to landfill. The conference has three lines of papers presented: environmental, technical and policy. Thus, the scope of information is broad and covers all the bases, so to speak. From dealing with abattoir effluent to reality checks on e-waste and the so-called informal reclaimers in the country, everything is covered. Legislation is also unpacked and made relevant and challenges highlighted. All in all, it is going to be an exciting WasteCon, an event that has grown to attract even international role players. Check out our Facebook page for regular updates and photographs or click on the WasteCon tab on this website.
