Wasting the Nation.indd - Groundwork

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, then to include a prohibition on itsimport. It can be anticipated that any regulation restricting trade will be contested onthe grounds of compatibility with WTO rules.Mining wasteThe mining waste stream is by far the largest in South Africa but is excluded from theWaste Bill. Responsibility – or the lack of it – for mining waste resides with DMEwho, it appears, refused to countenance its inclusion within the Waste Bill. Apart fromthe vast mine dumps littering the country, the industry also operates incinerators.Responding to questions from the portfolio committee, DEAT officials noted thatthey could not account for incinerators operated by mining corporations as thisinformation is in the hands of the DME.It may be observed that the DME is located within the ‘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 the 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 the recycling that actually happens. Refusing them any legalrecognition leaves them vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. Rather, the Bill shouldenable the regulation of salvaging with the aim of drawing “salvagers, who hold awealth of information with regard to recyclable material, into viable and sustainablerecycling initiatives”. 56At present, the minimum requirements disallow dump picking although this condition,like many others, is unevenly enforced. In terms of the Waste Bill, the licence will setthe conditions for all waste management activities. Following the intervention of theportfolio committee, the licence “must specify … if applicable, the 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 their minds to56 groundWork Briefing Paper: The Waste Management Bill.- 76 - groundWork - Wasting the Nation