Wasting the Nation.indd - Groundwork
Wasting the Nation.indd - Groundwork
Wasting the Nation.indd - Groundwork
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Chapter 2: Rubbish FiguresThe definition of <strong>the</strong>se categories was as much pragmatic as scientific. They wereconceived to identify priorities for dealing with wastes but also to make wastemanagement “affordable” to industry. In consequence, <strong>the</strong> report locates as much wasteas possible in <strong>the</strong> lower categories. Thus, <strong>the</strong> bulk of mining waste is rated in groups4 and 5, with only <strong>the</strong> waste of zinc refining and antimony mining seen as hazardousenough to fit into group 1. The authors acknowledge that “<strong>the</strong> lack of information …on <strong>the</strong> composition and site-specific circumstances of each individual waste stream”make <strong>the</strong> hazard ratings uncertain” and better information “might produce ra<strong>the</strong>rdifferent results” [CSIR 1992: 5,9]. Indeed, <strong>the</strong> “ra<strong>the</strong>r different results” are evidenton <strong>the</strong> ground. To take just one example described in Chapter 4, <strong>the</strong> WonderfonteinRiver on <strong>the</strong> West Rand has been turned radio-active by bulk mining waste probablyclassified as group 4 or 5. 9 These hazard ratings were incorporated into <strong>the</strong> DWAF’s‘minimum requirements’ with some amendments, made in 1998, notably to includecarcinogens and teratogens. 10The Environment Outlook gives <strong>the</strong> following table for hazardous wastes from industryand mining.Table 3: Hazardous wastes per sector (in tonnes/year)IndustrialsectorGroup1Group2Group3Group4Group5 TotalManufacturing 22,313 148,205 281,167 4,772,190 10,149,134 15,373,009Metals 0 11 334,698 4,566,830 0 4,901,539Services 0 33,300 14,001 1,654,098 20,190,000 21,891,399Sub-total 22,313 181,516 629,866 10,993,118 30,339,134 42,165,947Mining 180 1,046,489 12,317 34,775,629 340,807,436 376,642,051Grand total 22,493 1,228,005 642,183 45,765,747 371,146,470 418,804,998Source: South Africa Environment Outlook [DEAT 2006a]Note that <strong>the</strong> final total is wrong. Vertical and horizontal totals add up to 418,807,998.Environment Outlook references sources from 1998 and 1995. In fact, <strong>the</strong>se figuresare from CSIR 1992. Thus, <strong>the</strong> grand totals for groups 1, 2 and 3 in <strong>the</strong> table add up9 We cannot know <strong>the</strong> actual classification because <strong>the</strong> data was confidential. However, <strong>the</strong> very large bulk of thiswaste suggests that it cannot have been included in <strong>the</strong> more hazardous categories.10 Carcinogens cause cancer. Teratogens cause birth defects.<strong>Wasting</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Nation</strong> - groundWork - 25 -