Wasting the Nation.indd - Groundwork
Wasting the Nation.indd - Groundwork
Wasting the Nation.indd - Groundwork
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Chapter 2: Rubbish Figureswaste of 725 kg/y. If, as in Cape Town, 55% of municipal waste is ‘trade’ ra<strong>the</strong>r thandomestic, <strong>the</strong>n per capita waste drops to 326 kg/y. Given that <strong>the</strong> majority of <strong>the</strong>population falls in <strong>the</strong> low income group, <strong>the</strong> implication is that middle and highearners are indeed pushing profligacy to new limits as argued by <strong>the</strong> NFSD.B1 and B2 municipalities reported more waste collected than disposed of. This means<strong>the</strong>y are spilling it, dumping illegally or <strong>the</strong>ir figures are completely cocked up. Thelast is most certain although <strong>the</strong>re may also be some illegal dumping by municipalities.That B1 cities, some of <strong>the</strong>m now bidding to be given metropolitan status, cannotgive a coherent account of waste is a sign of <strong>the</strong> deep malaise in waste management.19% of B1s and 34% of B2s did not respond to <strong>the</strong> DEAT assessment, indicating that<strong>the</strong>y have no effective waste management capacity 15 or are indifferent to <strong>the</strong> issue. Theabsence of capacity itself indicates <strong>the</strong> low priority given to waste.B3 and B4 figures look somewhat more credible, reflecting very low collection ratesand people taking <strong>the</strong>ir own rubbish to dumps. At best, however, <strong>the</strong>se figures arerough guesses as few of <strong>the</strong>se municipalities are likely even to monitor incoming wasteby sight if, indeed, <strong>the</strong>re is anyone on site. No waste management functions whateverare carried out in several B3 and most B4 municipalities that did respond to <strong>the</strong> DEATassessment. It is likely that those who did not respond – 39% of B3s and 62% of B4s– similarly just don’t do waste management.In principle, if not necessarily in practice, figures should include illegally dumpedwaste as municipalities are supposed to clean it up and many report doing so. However,costs cannot be recovered for this or for area cleaning and <strong>the</strong>se tasks are widelyneglected or under-resourced even in <strong>the</strong> metropolitan councils. This is particularly<strong>the</strong> case where services are outsourced or corporatised as shown by Samson [2003].Irrespective of privatisation, <strong>the</strong> principle of cost recovery falls hardest in poor areaswhere municipalities cannot hope to recover costs for any services. The effect is toreproduce <strong>the</strong> spatial inequities of apar<strong>the</strong>id.Municipalities do not regard waste minimisation or recycling as ‘core business’, despite<strong>the</strong> priority given to it in policy, and 87% say <strong>the</strong>y “lack capacity” for it – which reallymeans that <strong>the</strong>y ignore it. Where recycling is done, it seems that it is outsourced or simplyleft to <strong>the</strong> private sector. The DEAT assessment comments, “The existing municipal15 The consultants made follow up phone calls and comment that, “Typically, <strong>the</strong> municipalities that did notrespond indicated a lack of information and personnel to complete <strong>the</strong> questionnaire.”- 30 - groundWork - <strong>Wasting</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Nation</strong>