WHAT IS WASTE MINIMISATION?

This section provides guidance on feasibility studies for solid waste minimization PPPs to assist municipalities have an appreciation of what the feasibility study entails. The specific purpose of this section is to share with the municipalities the experience gained and lessons learned by South African Waste Minimisation Specialist consultants related to Waste Minimisation projects and PPPs (including some which have been initiated and supported by the Municipal Investment and Infrastructural Unit (MIIU)) over the last few years. The objective is to combine the knowledge and skills acquired around waste minimisation projects into one document that can assist municipalities when they embark on a feasibility study for a PPP.

1.
WHAT IS WASTE MINIMISATION?

Internationally there have been several definitions proposed for the term “Waste Minimisation” (WMin) as it is a broad term that has different meanings for a variety of stakeholders. This fact continues to create confusion amongst South African communities, business, waste management professionals and Municipalities alike who often do not have a common understanding/opinion of the definition of Waste Minimisation and what activities it entails..

For most South Africans “waste minimisation” is considered to be inclusive and comprises of the reduction of waste (of both volumes and the toxicity) along ALL elements of the integrated waste management (IWM) hierarchy (as listed below).

This is closely in line with DEAT’s definition where “Waste minimisation comprises any activity to prevent or reduce the volume and/or environmental impact of waste that is generated, treated, stored or disposed of”.

There is however also a school of thought that follows the European Waste Minimisation definition which reserves the use of the term only for one specific aspect of the integrated waste management strategy, namely the “Source Reduction” component. Waste Minimisation then also gets a much broader definition and is described as ‘a preventative approach to environmental management through which goods and services are produced with the minimum environmental impact under present technological and economic limits’.

In this case the terms “waste minimisation”, “cleaner production”, “pollution prevention” and “source reduction” mean essentially the same and are aimed at the optimisation of integrated waste management. For the document, the most popular local definition of “Waste Minimisation” will be used: 'Waste minimization comprises any activity to prevent or reduce the volume and/or environmental impact of waste that is generated, treated, stored or disposed of”.

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Sumber: Waste Minimisation Section 2.2