Environmental waste management in South Africa is governed in terms of the National Environmental Management: Waste Act 2008 (Act 59 of 2008), as amended by the National Environmental Management: Waste Amendment Act (26 of 2014). A waste management licence is required in terms of NEMWA and associated regulations and notices. Several waste activities are listed in three separate lists. Category A activities requires that a Basic Assessment Process, Category B listed activities requires a full scoping and EIA process and Category C listed activities do not need a licence, however, it must conform to certain practices and standards listed.
KCM has experience in undertaking Waste Audits to ensure that the condition of the WML is implemented and the conditions are followed. Our auditor will monitor and report on compliance to the commitments stated in the approved WML. The audit report done by our auditor can be submitted to the Client and in turn the Competent Authority, detailing the compliance status of the project and recommendations on improving overall compliance.
The National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, 2004 (Act no. 39 of 2004) listed in Government Notice No. 248, Gazette No 33064 stipulates that that any facility producing air pollution – which in terms of the Act is referred to as an atmospheric emission – must ensure that they have in place an effective air quality management plan. Certain industries have been documented as carrying out “listed activities”, in which case they need to apply for an Atmospheric Emission License (AEL). It is an offence for industries to operate a listed activity without an Air Emissions Licence. An environmental authorisation is required for activities that need an AEL as the AEL process is closely linked to the EIA process.
KCM has experience in undertaking AEL Compliance Audits to ensure that the set of management conditions set out in the AEL are compliant, on a regular basis. The audit report can be submitted to the Client and in turn the Competent Authority, detailing the compliance status of the project and recommendations and actions on improving overall compliance.
Environmental waste management in South Africa is governed in terms of the National Environmental Management: Waste Act 2008 (Act 59 of 2008), as amended by the National Environmental Management: Waste Amendment Act (26 of 2014). The Waste Act promotes the waste management hierarchy to reduce the amount of waste going into landfill, through waste avoidance, reduction, re-use, recycling, recovery, treatment, and safe disposal as a last resort. To reduce the impact on human health and the environment the Act also includes minimum requirements and licensing for activities involving the storage, transportation, re-use, recycling, treatment, and disposal of waste.
KCM can conduct an audit of your current Waste Management Plan to assess the degree of compliance with the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2009 and provide recommendations where necessary.
The process we follow is:
- Analyse the quantitative and qualitative waste being generated.
- Identify the waste management action for each type of waste including re-using, recycling, recovery of disposal.
- Update the plan to reflect the progress of the project.
KCM undertakes EMPr in accordance with Appendix 4 of the NEMA: EIA Regulations, 2014 as amended in 2017 (GNR 326). The purpose of the EMPr is to translate mitigation measures into actions that can be practically implemented during pre-construction, construction and operational activities.
KCM’S EMPr will address at minimum:
- Site management
- Sand mining activities
- Safety and security
- Dust and air pollution
- Access routes
- Vegetation clearing
- Storm water management
- Waste management (hazardous and general waste)
- Spillages and contingency plans
- Soil erosion
- Sensitive environmental areas (including watercourses/wetlands/protected areas and vegetation)
- Emergency procedures
- Environmental awareness training
- Storage areas
- Cultural environment
- Management of environmental impacts
- Compliance with environmental management outcomes
Since the inception of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (39 of 2004), the focus on emission management strategies implemented has been on point sources (emission limits for stacks/vents/chimneys of Listed Activities and Controlled Emitters). Fugitive Emissions remain largely uncontrolled and unaccounted for due to the emissions being quantified and the challenge in managing the sources of emissions. The aim of a Fugitive Emissions Management Plan will identify sources and potential sources of fugitive emissions, will consider the risk to sensitive receptors and has been produced with the intention to reduce as much as possible fugitive emissions causing activities.
KCM prepares a Fugitive Emissions Management as per the following:
- An assessment of the risk of fugitive emission problems, from normal and abnormal situations, including worst case scenarios, for example of weather, temperature or breakdowns and accidents.
- The appropriate controls (both physical and management) needed to manage those risks.
- Suitable monitoring.
- Regular review of the effectiveness of fugitive emissions control measures.
In South Africa, through the National Environment Management: Air Quality Act, 2004 (Government Gazette, 2005), pollution caused by dust, noise and offensive odours are addressed. An Odour Management Plan has to be developed and implemented in order to manage and mitigate the potential impacts of odour from site operations. It distinguishes the potential receptors of odour, and control measures set up and accessible to manage any issues emerging.
KCM prepares an Odour Management Plan as per the following:
- Identifying the sources of odour on your site, as well as its surrounding areas, from normal and abnormal situations.
- Setting out procedures to mitigate or minimise the risk of odour.
- Formalising an effective method of dealing with any odour complaints quickly and efficiently.
- Suitable monitoring and record keeping.
- Regular review of the effectiveness of odour management control measures
Section 30 of the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 defines an emergency incident as ‘an unexpected sudden occurrence, involving a major emission, fire or explosion leading to danger to the public or potentially serious pollution of or detriment to the environment, whether immediate or delayed’. The relevant authority includes the municipality with jurisdiction over the area in which the incident occurs. The aim of a Contingency Plan is to reduce human injury, damage to property and environment in an emergency as well as to respond to the following.
KCM prepares a Contingency Plan as per the following:
- The nature and degree of the emergency.
- Ensure safe and swift evacuation of employees.
- Identifying those responsible, their specific duties and the resources required.
- Effective communication between the person authorised to coordinate the emergency response and all persons at the workplace.
- Notification and alerting of emergency services at the earliest opportunity.
- Medical treatment and assistance.