Directions Regarding Measures to Address, Prevent and Combat the Spread of COVID-19 in Relation to Recycling of Waste

Repealed
This Government Notice was repealed on 2021-10-28 by Withdrawal of Various Directions Regarding Measures to Address, Prevent and Combat the Spread of COVID-19.
Jurisdiction
South Africa
Citation
Government Notice 539 of 2020
Primary work
Disaster Management Act, 2002
Date
14 May 2020
Language
English
Type
Legislation
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South Africa
Disaster Management Act, 2002

Directions Regarding Measures to Address, Prevent and Combat the Spread of COVID-19 in Relation to Recycling of Waste

Government Notice 539 of 2020

  1. [Repealed by Withdrawal of Various Directions Regarding Measures to Address, Prevent and Combat the Spread of COVID-19 (Government Notice 1438 of 2021) on 28 October 2021]
I, Barbara Dallas Creecy, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment hereby issue the Directions set out in the Schedule in terms of regulation 4(10) of the Regulations issued by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in terms of section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002) and published on 29 April 2020 in Government Notice No. R. 480 of Government Gazette No. 43258.Barbara Dallas CreecyMinister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

1. Definitions

In these Directions, any word or expression to which a meaning has been assigned in the Regulations or the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, bears the meaning so assigned and, unless the context otherwise indicates—"National Environmental Management: Waste Act" means the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008);"Regulations" means the Regulations issued in terms of section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act and published on 29 April 2020 in Government Notice No. R. 480 of Government Gazette No. 43258; and"Waste Information Regulations" means the National Waste Information Regulations issued in terms of section 69(1) of the National Environmental Management: Waste Act and published on 13 August 2012 in Government Notice No. R. 625 of Government Gazette No. 35583.

2. Purpose

The purpose of these Directions is to—
(a)curtail the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and to alleviate, contain and minimise the effects of the national state of disaster;
(b)ensure fair processes, and related procedures during Alert Level 4 for the recycling of glass, paper, plastic, metal and tyres and other waste streams as contemplated in Annexure 3 and 4 of the Waste Information Regulations;
(c)provide direction in respect of the protection of health, well-being and the environment when carrying out of activities by the recycling sector in terms of the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, through the provision of reasonable measures for re-using, recycling and recovering of waste in respect of services that have been permitted under Alert Level 4 as contained in the Regulations; and
(d)enable separation of waste at source by encouraging households and other establishments that generate municipal solid waste to separate recyclables from residual waste before disposal.

3. Application

These Directions apply to persons carrying out activities as contemplated in section 2(a)(iii) and 16(1)(b) of National Environmental Management: Waste Act and includes—
(a)all recycling operations within the Republic of South Africa, including formal recycling establishments (e.g. waste storage, depots, Buy Back Centres, waste processing facilities, etc.); and
(b)all informal recyclers and waste pickers.

4. Directions related to formal recycling establishments of glass, paper, plastic, metal, tyres and other waste streams as contemplated in Annexure 3 and 4 of the Waste Information Regulations

4.1All recycling operations within the Republic of South Africa are expected to allow operations for the recycling of glass, paper, plastic, metal, tyres and other waste streams as contemplated in Annexure 3 and 4 of the Waste Information Regulations and which are contained as Annexure 1 and 2 to these Directions, which operations are permitted to operate at 50% capacity.
4.2Formal recycling operations as permitted by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition must adhere to Alert Level 4 conditions relating to social distancing, the usage of personal protective equipment, the disinfecting and sanitizing of establishments and are limited to operate at not more than 50% ofcapacity. When establishing capacity, all formal recycling establishments must limit the number of persons, including staff, contractors and customers physically present in a recycling establishment at any given time to not exceeding one person for every nine square metres. The calculation of the maximum number of people permitted in the recycling establishment must be based on the net floor space where people can freely move around, not considering divisions such as walls, fixtures, fittings, etc. and others that occupy floor space. The following formula must be applied:N = F/9N = Number of people allowed in the recycling establishment spaceF = clear floor space of the site in square metres (excluding space occupied by walls, fixtures and fittings).

5. Directions related to informal recyclers and waste pickers

5.1A municipality may issue permits under regulations 16(2)(b) and 28(4) of the Regulations relating to informal recyclers and waste pickers, and must maintain a list of persons to whom permits were issued, including their names, gender, and identification or passport number, where available.
5.2In order to enable a municipality to process the issuing of permits as contemplated in subparagraph 5.1, all informal recyclers and waste pickers must provide proof of identity or certified copies of proof of identity in the following manner:
(a)All South African informal recyclers and waste pickers must provide South African identity or passport documents or certified copies thereof;
(b)all non-South African informal recyclers and waste pickers must provide either—
(i)a valid passport or a certified copy thereofwith a visa authorising him or her to work, issued by the Department of Home Affairs in terms of section 10 read with section 19 of the Immigration Act, 2002 (Act No. 13 of 2002), or a certified copy thereof; or
(ii)an asylum seekers’ visa, or a certified copy thereof, issued in terms of section 22(1) of the Refugees Act, 1998 (Act No. 130 of 1998), which is endorsed with the right to work; or
(iii)a formal written recognition of refugee status or a certified copy thereof, issued in terms of section 27 the Refugees Act, 1998 (Act No. 130 of 1998).
5.3All informal recyclers and waste pickers must uphold health and hygiene requirements by—
(a)wearing personal protective equipment (including gloves, a cloth or any other mask) at all times during operation; and
(b)maintaining a social distance amongst informal waste recyclers and waste pickers of at least one and a half metres.

6. Commencement and duration

These Directions come into effect on the date of publication in the Government Gazette, and will apply for the period of Alert Level 4.

Annexure 1

General waste types

 NoNameNOName
General wasteGW 01Municipal waste01 
 GW 10Commercial and industrial waste01 
 GW 13Brine01 
 GW 14Fly ash and dust from miscellaneous filter sources01 
 GW 15Bottom ash01 
 GW 16Slag01Ferrous metal slag
 02Non-ferrous metal slag
 03Other
 GW 17Mineral waste01Foundry sand
 02Refractory waste
 03Other
 GW 18Waste of electric and electronic and electronic equipment (WEEE) from which hazardous components/ substances have been removed01Large household appliances
 
 02Small household appliances
 03Office, information and communication equipment
 04Entertainment and consumer electronics and toys, leisure, sports and recreational equipment and automatic issuing machines
 05Lighting equipment
 06Electric and electronic tools
 
 07Security andhealth care equipment
 08Mixed WEEE
 GW 20Organic waste01Garden waste
 02Food waste
 03Wood waste
 GW 21Sewage sludge01Sewage sludge
 GW 30Construction and demolition waste01 
 GW 50Paper01Newsprint and magazines
 02Brown grades
 03White grades
 04Mixed grades
 GW 51Plastics01Polyethyleneterephthalate (PET)
 02Polyvinyl Chloride(PVC)
 03Low-densitypolyethylene(LPDE)
  04Polypropylene (PP)
 05Polystyrene (PS)
  06Other
 GW 52Glass01 
 GW 53Metals01Ferrous metal
 02Non-ferrous metal
 GW 54Tyres01 
 GW 99Other01 

Annexure 2

Hazardous waste types

 NoNameNoName
Hazardous wasteHW 01Gaseous waste01Gases (excludingGreenhouse gases)
02Obsolete ozone depleting gases
HW 02Mercury containing waste01Liquid waste containing mercury
02Solid waste containing mercury
HW 03Batteries01Lead batteries
02Mercury batteries
03Ni/Cd batteries
04Manganese dioxide and alkali batteries
05Lithium and Lithium ion batteries
06Nickel-metal hydride batteries
07Mixed batteries
HW 04POP waste01PCB containing wasste (>50mg/kg)
  02Other POP-containing waste
HW 05  Liquid and sludge inorganic waste
02Solid inorganic waste
03Spent pot lining (inorganic)
HW 06Asbestos containing waste01Asbestos containing waste
HW 07waste oils01Waste oil
HW 08Organic halogenated and / or sulphur containing solvents01Solvents containing halogens and/ or sulphur
HW 09Organic halogenated and / or sulphur containing waste01Liquids and sludges containing halogens and /or suIphur
02Solids containing halogens and / or sulphur
HW 10Organic solvents without halogens01Solvents without halogens and sulphur
HW 11Other organic waste without halogen or sulphur01Liquid and sludge organic waste
02Solid organic waste
03Spent pot lining (organic)
HW 12Tarry and bituminous waste01Tarry waste
02Bituminous watse
HW 13Brine01Brine
HW 14Fly ash and dust from miscellaneous filter sources01Fly ash
HW 15Bottom ash01Bottom ash
HW 16Slag01Ferrous metal slag
02Non-ferrous metal slag
03Other
HW 17Mineral waste01Foundry sand
02Refractory waste
03Other
HW 18Waste of electric and electronic equipment (WEEE)01Large household appliances
02Small household appliances
  03Office information and communication equipment
  04Entertainment and consumer electronics and toys, leisure, sports and recreational equipment and automatic issuing machines
  05Lighting equipment
  06Electric and electronic toools
  07Security and health care equipment
  08Mixed WEEE
HW 19Health care risk waste01Pathological waste
02Infectious waste and sharps
03Chemical waste
HW 20Sewage sludge01Sewage sludge
HW 99Miscellaneous01Miscellaneous
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