Drafts of the amended waste management activity list and the national norms and standards were recently published by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA).

The proposed amended list has deleted activity 3(2) of Category A which refers to the sorting, shredding, grinding, crushing, screening or bailing of general waste at a facility that has an operational area in excess of 1,000 square meters.

A similar activity with no operational area threshold has been inserted under Category C of the List.

What this means

These amendments will mean that a waste management licence will no longer be required for the processing of general waste by sorting, shredding, grinding, crushing, screening or bailing.  However, all facilities which process general waste in this manner will be subject to regulation in terms of the norms and standards, regardless of the size of their operational areas.

The norms and standards will introduce mandatory monitoring, auditing and reporting requirements and will require existing facilities to register with the competent authority within 90 days of publication of the norms and standards.

Waste facilities with an operational area of less than 100 square meters will only be required to register with the competent authority and comply with the prescribed environmental duties of care.

Waste management companies

Clients who are currently operating or plan to operate a waste facility for the sorting, shredding, grinding, crushing, screening or bailing of general waste should take note of the proposed amended list and the requirements of the norms and standards.

The closing date for public comments on these proposed amendments is 17 May 2017.