Since 2001, the National Waste Management Strategy (DEA, 2011) has set targets for all municipalities, secondary cities and large towns to initiate separation at source programmes. Such programmes require a collection system that is able to keep the separated recyclables separate from other waste. However, current collection systems are often not conducive to the separate collection of recyclables, and will therefore need to be adapted.

In response to these challenges, the CSIR’s senior environmental economist, Anton Nahman, has announced that a new decision-making model is in the works, taking into account the different cost and landfilling constraints of different types of municipal structures.

The need

“There are a number of different options for implementing separation at source (and the accompanying collection system). These range from relatively ‘low tech,’ inexpensive options (such as using a truck and trailer), to more costly and high tech approaches (eg. using separate vehicles or split-compartment vehicles).

“Each option differs in terms of their financial, social and environmental implications. In turn, the most appropriate option will differ from one municipality to another, depending on the volumes and types of waste that are generated, the current waste collection system, the size of the municipality, and a number of other factors. It may even differ between different areas within the same municipality,” explains Nahman.

Decision support

Working out the costs and benefits of each option can be complicated. Municipalities therefore require decision support in order to identify the most appropriate option in their particular context. The CSIR’s new model will assist municipalities in assessing the costs and benefits of different options for implementing separation at source, based on the unique context of each municipality.

“The tool calculates the costs and benefits of each option, for any municipality in South Africa,” says Nahman.

“It therefore provides guidance on how separated recyclables should be collected. For example, should the municipality use separate vehicles, split-compartment vehicles, or truck-and-trailers”.

The model contains data on each suburb for every municipality in South Africa, thereby allowing for detailed suburb-specific costing of kerbside collection of separated waste

Ongoing development

The model is currently being expanded to take into account the social and environmental implications of each option, in addition to financial costs and benefits. Once that is complete, municipalities will be able to identify the most appropriate option from an integrated social, economic and environmental perspective.