South Africa has the political will and commitment, to translate the polluter – pay- principle, into operational policies that create a conducive environment for private sector investment in waste management, according to Bernice Swarts, the Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment .
Speaking at the International Solid Waste Association World Congress, in Cape Town, earlier this month, the Minister said “in 2022, South Africa supported the development of an international legally binding instrument to combat plastic pollution at the Fifth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly.”
She said although the fiscus is under a lot of pressure here in South Africa and across many other countries, the role of the private sector in reducing the burden and shouldering some of the responsibility is key, is still well defined.
South Africa has various activities aligned to the fight against plastics pollution and marine litter, in the form of voluntary approaches, aimed at tackling plastic pollution and introduced schemes, such as the household and community waste disposal and the creation of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
EPR initiatives have resulted in the formation of five registered extended producer schemes that support plastic waste collection and recycling.
The EPR Regulations aim to influence product design to take environmental considerations into account and are currently being implemented for paper, packaging and some single use products, lighting, electrical and electronic products.
Swarts said “South Africa is also implementing product design regulations on prioritised plastic products.”
In 2023, government put a restriction of a minimum of 50% recycled content as part of the product design measures for plastic carrier bags. The goal is to have plastic carrier bags and black refuse bags, produced from 100% recycled material, by 2027.
Picture: GCIS