Wasting the Nation.indd - Groundwork
Wasting the Nation.indd - Groundwork
Wasting the Nation.indd - Groundwork
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Chapter 3: The politics of wasteeffect will be to create a series of struggles around each particular waste: first to have itdefined as a priority waste and, if it is so defined, <strong>the</strong>n to include a prohibition on itsimport. It can be anticipated that any regulation restricting trade will be contested on<strong>the</strong> grounds of compatibility with WTO rules.Mining wasteThe mining waste stream is by far <strong>the</strong> largest in South Africa but is excluded from <strong>the</strong>Waste Bill. Responsibility – or <strong>the</strong> lack of it – for mining waste resides with DMEwho, it appears, refused to countenance its inclusion within <strong>the</strong> Waste Bill. Apart from<strong>the</strong> vast mine dumps littering <strong>the</strong> country, <strong>the</strong> industry also operates incinerators.Responding to questions from <strong>the</strong> portfolio committee, DEAT officials noted that<strong>the</strong>y could not account for incinerators operated by mining corporations as thisinformation is in <strong>the</strong> hands of <strong>the</strong> DME.It may be observed that <strong>the</strong> DME is located within <strong>the</strong> ‘minerals and energy complex’that has both shaped South Africa’s development and subordinated that developmentto its own interest. The DME’s defence of its turf is also <strong>the</strong> political defence of thoseinterests.SalvagersThe DEAT was reluctant to allow any legal acknowledgement of dump picking.groundWork pointed out that pickers are active on most dumps and are in factresponsible for much of <strong>the</strong> recycling that actually happens. Refusing <strong>the</strong>m any legalrecognition leaves <strong>the</strong>m vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. Ra<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>the</strong> Bill shouldenable <strong>the</strong> regulation of salvaging with <strong>the</strong> aim of drawing “salvagers, who hold awealth of information with regard to recyclable material, into viable and sustainablerecycling initiatives”. 56At present, <strong>the</strong> minimum requirements disallow dump picking although this condition,like many o<strong>the</strong>rs, is unevenly enforced. In terms of <strong>the</strong> Waste Bill, <strong>the</strong> licence will set<strong>the</strong> conditions for all waste management activities. Following <strong>the</strong> intervention of <strong>the</strong>portfolio committee, <strong>the</strong> licence “must specify … if applicable, <strong>the</strong> conditions in termsof which salvaging of waste may be undertaken” [s. 51]. This does not restrict salvagingto landfills but suggests that regulators and waste managers must apply <strong>the</strong>ir minds to56 groundWork Briefing Paper: The Waste Management Bill.- 76 - groundWork - <strong>Wasting</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Nation</strong>