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A SPECIAL GIFT FOR PHOKWANETHE Minister of Water and Envi-ronmental Affairs Edna Molewacut the ribbon at Phokwane LocalMunicipality to mark the officiallaunch of Hartswater landfill site.

The project was completed onMarch 31 and was funded as part ofthe Working on Waste programme.The project cost the departmentR15.2-million.

The landfill will provide servicesfor solid waste disposal.

The construction of the two-kilo-metre site included leachate con-trol, fencing of the landfill, con-struction of the leachate septic tankand pipe-work, a gate/guard house,storage shed, access road and stormwater management for surfacewater runoff.

The municipality’s old site wasfound to be in contravention of theWaste Act which resulted in theEnvironmental ManagementInspectorate, also known as theGreen Scorpions, serving theMunicipality with a notice of con-travention of the Waste Act.

Consequently, the project waslisted as a priority in the munic-i p a l i ty ’s Integrated DevelopmentPlan of the 2009/2010 financialye a r.

The implementation of the pro-ject was labour intensive and is thefirst of its kind, since it was builtwith hands and 288 people wereemployed during the constructionphase.

The Department of Environmen-tal Affairs will replicate the hands-built process in its future projectswherever possible.

The project provided a total of29 512 person working days duringits implementation and more than90% of workers were sourcedl o c a l ly.

Speaking at the launch event,Molewa said: “The Department ofEnvironmental Affairs through theEnvironmental Protection andInfrastructure Programme is fund-

ing the implementation of variousenvironmental projects in theNorthern Cape using labour inten-sive methods in line with therequirements of Expanded PublicWorks Programme (EPWP).”

“We expect this landfill site to bein operation for the next 20 ye a r sand the municipality will from nowon operate it in full compliance withthe Waste Act whose implemen-tation we are also monitoring.” saidthe minister.

“This Act advocates steps in thewaste management hierarchy,which in the informs waste man-

agement in South Africa. This land-mark legislation seeks to addressthe problems we have had fordecades over our waste.

“This Act will allow us to driverecycling as part of our Green Econ-omy Plan that aims to create jobs,with the municipalities expected tobe central to effective managementof waste. It therefore means that themunicipalities are also part of ourefforts to create green jobs in thegreen economy that we believe yourcommunity should also be part of”she added.

“In line with the Green Economy

Plan, measures will be imple-mented to strengthen and expandour economic growth through recy-cling and enterprise developmentso that we can generate and sustainjobs as well as formalise existingjobs in the waste area as part of thee c o n o my.

“Our targets for 2015 are to create69 000 new jobs in the waste sectorand 2 600 additional SMMEs andcooperatives participating in wasteservice delivery and recycling.

“Therefore development of theNational Waste Management Strat-egy is an important milestone in the

process of implementing the WasteAct and in establishing an inte-grated approach to waste manage-ment across government and ourbroader society.”

Molewa added that the strategysets out a programme for universalprovision of waste services accord-ing to standards developed in termsof the Waste Act.

“This is also a government-wideaction plan with defined targets onrecycling, job creation and SMMEdevelopment, including the imple-mentation of Extended ProducerResponsibility through the devel-opment of industry waste manage-ment plans, the declaration of Pri-ority Wastes. In addition the Strat-egy identifies the need for 800 Envi-ronment Management Inspectors atvarious government levels to imple-ment the Waste Act.”

As a result of the Hartswaterlandfill site, permanent employ-ment opportunities exist for a wasteinstructor, gate house operator anda waste compactor operator whenthe landfill is in full operation.

The community of Hartswaterwill benefit from the developmentas it will be established far fromwhere they reside and thereforeproblems such as odours and healthrisk will be eliminated, and a gen-erally clean environment and a con-trolled waste disposal method willbe achieved.

Molewa said: “The implementa-tion of the waste management hier-archy and achievement of the objec-tives outlined in this strategy isintegral to achieving a sustainablefuture and a better life for all SouthAfricans.

“In conclusion, together with youas provincial and local government,I know we can build stronger,healthier communities, a cleanerenvironment and a more prosper-ous and successful life for everyonein the Northern Cape and SouthAfrica in general.”

DIGGING IN: Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa at the launch of the Hartswaterlandfill site in Phokwane Local Municipality.

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SOUTH Africa produces close to200 000 tons of waste tyres annuallyof which only 5% of the waste tyreare suitable for grinding or recy-cling.

Waste tyres do not compact andare therefore not welcome in landfillsites resulting in large amounts ofwaste tyre piling up at various sitesacross the country.

The National EnvironmentalManagement: Waste Act 2008 recog-nises this shortfall when it comes tocertain waste items providing chal-lenges when passing through thewaste management hierarchy.

In this case, the Waste Act givesthe minister or MEC of environ-mental affairs the authority torequest from a person or category ofpersons to prepare an industrywaste management plan for theproper management of the wasteitem.

Consequently, the Department ofEnvironmental Affairs (DEA) pro-mulgated Waste Tyre Regulationson February 13 2009.

In terms of the regulations, tyreproducers are required to prepareand submit to the minister of envi-ronmental affairs an IntegratedIndustry Waste Tyre ManagementPlan (IIWTMP) for approval.

In response to this regulation, anIIWTMP was received from theRecycling and Economic Develop-ment Initiative of South Africa(Redisa).

Following an extensive public par-ticipation process, the minister hasapproved the Redisa Plan and pub-lished it for implementation on Ju ly23 2012.

Redisa has been registered as anon-profit company representingnumerous categories of personsthat produce waste in the tyrei n d u st r y.

In line with the New Growth Pathand the department’s green econ-omy approach, the Redisa plan iscentred around job creation, theneed for informal participation, andresilience and longitivity.

The Redisa Plan aims to remove200 000 tons of waste tyres that arecurrently polluting our countr.

The Redisa plan aims to sustain-ably create 10 000 job opportuni-ties.

The plan will be funded through aper kilogram levy on tyres man-ufactured in or imported into thecountry with the current levy atR 2 . 3 0 / kg .

Getting rid of e-Waste the right wayTHAT awkward moment whendrop your cellphone during soc-cer practice for the 10th time ... orpermanently water damage yourcellphone after trying to BBMwhile brushing your teeth!

Many of us are guilty of keepingour old or damaged electronicssomewhere in a drawer for oldtimes sake.

Did you know that you can recy-cle your mobile phone, old com-puter and other office, school orhome electronics? Just like bat-teries and aerosol cans, some ofthese electronic products can actu-ally become dangerous if they arenot disposed of properly.

South Africa is a rapidly growingeconomy, and our use of electronicshas not lagged behind. All of thisequipment has a lifespan and onceit no longer serves its purpose, itbecomes known as e-waste.

What is e-waste?According to the e-Waste Asso-

ciation of South Africa (eWasa), thewidely accepted international def-

inition of e-waste is “anything thatruns on electricity”.

Therefore e-waste (electronicand electrical waste) includes com-puters, entertainment electronics,cellphones and ap p l i a n c e s .

Some of the less obvious itemsthat are also considered e-wasteare spent fluorescent tubes, printercartridges, batteries and battery-operated toys.

Why should I be worriedabout e-waste?

Certain types of e-waste can bedangerous, largely due to the tox-icity of some of the substances ifprocessed improperly.

The toxicity is due in part to lead,mercury, cadmium and a number ofother substances.

These substances, can amongothers, poison water supplies, soiland be very toxic or deadly tohumans upon direct contact.

According to eWasa up to 36separate chemical elements areincorporated into e-waste items.

This presents difficulties forrecycling, as these items are com-plex and no viable traditional meth-ods of recycling them existed untilrecent years.

These items do not, for the mostpart, bio-degrade into safe com-pounds like organic matter.

Many of the plastics used in elec-tronic equipment contain flameretardants, ruling out incinera-tion.

How and where can I disposeof e-waste?

Industry role-players, such asmanufacturers and retailers ofelectronic products; internationaldonor organisations and govern-ment have initiated a variety ofprojects to co-ordinate the safe dis-posal of the products.

eWasa set the trend of partner-ing with various organisations tocreate what are known as “Green e-Waste Channel” in Cape Town,Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

The Green e-Waste Channels

encompass systems, processes andthe infrastructure required for thesafe disposal of e-waste.

These partnerships include link-ing members of the public, busi-nesses, drop-off centres, recyclersand shops with each other, in orderto create jobs and ease the pressureon landfill sites.

You can contact the provincial ormunicipal offices in your area to

find out where to drop off your e-wa st e .

If you live outside of Gauteng, theWestern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal,you may also enquire at your localsu p e r m a r ke t , electronics store orcellphone service provider regard-ing their e-waste disposal service.There are also a number of com-panies who provide and collect e-waste bins to offices and schools.

REDISA PLAN

WILL CUT SA

TYRE WASTE

Service for allTHE National Policy for the Provision of BasicRefuse Removal Services has been establishedto pave the way for municipalities to providebasic refuse removal (BRR) services to com-munities within their jurisdiction.

The purpose of the policy is to ensure that theindigent or poor households have access to themost essential refuse removal services.

The policy further seeks to establish a frame-work for the development, identification andmanagement of poor households that can beenrolled for the BRR service and seeks to edu-cate and raise awareness within municipalitiesregarding the proper handling of domesticwaste and to promote recycling.

Furthermore, the Waste Act requires munic-ipalities to provide communities with containersfor recyclables that are accessible to the public.

The municipality is also tasked with devisingappropriate strategies to maintain a constantand consistent supply of such free containers.

As such, the Department of EnvironmentalAffairs intends on assisting municipalities byproviding waste containers to households.

The policy clearly states that householdsmust formally apply for BRR services for whichcriteria for qualification are set by the con-cerned municipality.

The frequency of collection is dependent uponthe composition as well as volumes of wasteg e n e r at e d .

To ascertain whether you qualify for BRR ser-vices, contact your nearest municipality or callthe DEA on 086-111-2468.

CLEANER LIFE: The government of South Africa isproviding a plan to remove refuse from allhouseholds.

Legislation for acleaner countryLIVING in a clean andhealthy environment that iscontinually protected forfuture generations is a rightentrenched in the constitu-tion of South Africa.

Prior to 2009, there werevarious pieces of legislationgoverning waste in SouthAfrica, making waste leg-islation and regulation f r ag -mented.

The government a c k n owl -edged this and have pro-mulgated waste legislationgeared towards regulatingwaste management in SouthAfrica consistently whileensuring that householdshave access to waste col-lection services and areaware of the ways in whichwaste can be disposed.

A household survey con-ducted in 2007 revealed thatonly 61% of all South Africanhouseholds had access todomestic waste collectionservices.

In addressing this, theDepartment of Environmen-tal Affairs promulgated theNational EnvironmentalManagement: Waste Act2008 which came into effecton July 1 2009.

The Waste Act defines

“wa st e ” as all types of sub-stances that are rejected,surplus or disposed whetheror not it has economicva l u e .

The objectives of theWaste Act are to minimisethe consumption of naturalresources, prevent pollu-tion, promote and ensurethe effective delivery ofwaste services and achieveintegrated waste manage-ment reporting and plan-ning.

The Waste Act called fo rthe establishment of aNational Waste Manage-ment Strategy (NWMS).

The NWMS was ap p r ove dby Cabinet and published forimplementation on May 42012.

The NWMS introduced avery simple and effectiveway in which households,industry and commerce canmanage their waste: Thewaste management hierar-chy. The hierarchy providesoptions for managing yourwaste during the lifecycle ofa product.

The government is com-mitted to addressing thefragmentation in waste ser-vices – a function that pri-

marily lies with municipal-ities.

As such, on March 30 2012the department publishedthe Municipal Waste SectorPlan for implementation.

The plan is aimed atassisting municipalities tofast track the provision ofwaste services including thestorage, collection, trans-portation, recycling and safedisposal of waste.

The plan also encouragesa change in behaviour incompliance with the wastemanagement hierarchy.

The plan also makes acontribution to povertyeradication and job creation.Waste collection is l ab o u rintensive and the use ofcommunity-based collectionof domestic waste and recy-clables is becoming morecommon.

These activities have thepotential to create employ-ment, reduce cost and pro-vide waste services to pre-viously unserviced areas.

The recycling industryalso has the potential to con-tribute towards job creationthrough collection and sort-ing of waste.

HOW TO DO IT: Disposing of electronics and electrical waste safely.PHOTO: ECOWOMEN.NET

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Let’s do our part Mzanzi!THERE is so much that you can doat home to minimise the amount ofwaste you generate.

Certain types of organic wastefrom your kitchen like ve g e t ab l epeels, and garden waste such asgrass clippings can be composted toenrich the quality of your soil.

Natu r e ’s circle of life systemmeans that organic waste materialsleft on the ground decompose andreturn their nutrients to the soil.

Microscopic organisms feed onorganic remains breaking it downto create a rich soil f e r t i l i s e r.

Composting works on the sameprinciples. Almost 75% of house-hold waste is compostable. Thus,composting not only saves landfillspace but also recycles materialthat most of us throw away.

The basics of composting

To make a good compost, oneneeds to have the right carbon-nitrogen ration. If the carbon con-tent is too high, it will slow downdecomposition, and if the nitrogencontent is too high, it could give outan unpleasant smell and also leachinto groundwater, polluting it.

A compost may be “hot” (aerobic)or “cold” (anaerobic). A hot com-post has to be aerated by turningthe pile often to mix in air. This isthe more sought after type of com-post as it decomposes faster andgives a better quality product.

A cold compost is advised if youare not in a hurry to obtain yourc o mp o st . It is also called a “p a s s ive ”compost as it receives less, if any,turning, and thus the decomposi-tion is anaerobic, that is withoutmaking use of oxygen.

Top 10 Composting Tips

1. Gather all grass clippings andgreen yard waste but be sure to mix

with “b r ow n ” materials like leavesto add carbon.

2. Do not compost meats or petdroppings. Stick with food scrapsand yard waste only.

3. Avoid all pesticides and/or her-bicide treated material.

4. If you add weeds to your pilemake sure your pile is good and hot.It should be steaming hot, not justwarm otherwise it may not kill theseeds.

5. Turn your pile as often as youcan.

6. Keep your compost damp, butnot wet. As you add material to yourpile make sure that each layer ismoist as it is added.

7. Got too much material to com-post? Make a second or third pile.Start a new pile. This will en su r e

you get a chance to use the compostthis season.

8. Add compost to your garden afew weeks before you plant. Let thecompost have a chance to work intothe soil. Try to mix it in and let it sitbefore you plant.

9. Bugs, worms and most bugs areokay. No need to go crazy trying tokeep bugs out of your compost.

10. Since the compost processworks best at warmer tempera-tures, it is best to make your firstattempt at composting in spring orsu m m e r.

By composting these materials,you not only minimise waste, butalso contribute to food security ifyou compost your vegetable gardenand do your part in the global effortagainst climate change.

LESS PLASTIC PLEASETHERE was once a time whena windy day meant plastic andother forms of litter werespread everywhere; a situa-tion that brought with it anumber of health and environ-mental risks.

In an attempt to addressthis problem, the Departmentof Environmental Affairs (DEA)introduced plastic bag legis-lation in May 2003.

The legislation required allshops to provide thicker, moredurable bags.

These new bags were bio-degradable and recyclable,which meant they were moreenvironmentally friendly.

Their thickness also madethem more reusable andmeant they were less likely tolitter our countryside.

Although the plastic baglegislation was introduced bythe DEA, the levy charged foreach bag is not controlled bythe department. The funds sitwith national Treasury in theNational Revenue Fund.

With the introduction of theplastic bag regulations, it wasenvisioned that the fundswould also help fund otherTreasury-approved DEA initia-tives, such as Buyisa-e-Bag.

Buyisa-e-Bag is a companythat was founded by the DEAin 2004 following a Memoran-dum of Agreement (MoA)between government, labourand industry in 2002.

It was established with theaim of expanding the coun-tr y’s waste collection net-works and promoting recy-

cling initiatives.Among the D o b j e c t i ve s

with were the establishmentof rural waste collectionsmall, medium and microenterprises (SMMEs), theimprovement of skills forworkers in the plastics field,the creation of additionalcapacity in non-governmentalo r g a n i s at i o n s as well as jobc r e at i o n .

Buyisa-e-Bag established 15buy-back centres around thecountry and has supported 25existing facilities to maximisetheir output.

Buyisa-e-Bag also providedthe infrastructure for recy-cling, which included a build-ing, three-phase power, bail-ers and scales.

However, despite this work,concerns arose about the via-bility of Buyisa-e-Bag. As aresult, the departmentdecided to conduct a reviewwhich found that the companyfailed to meet the objectivesset out in the MoA.

The review also presentedpossible solutions, whichincluded winding up the com-pany and absorbing its func-tions into the department –the option selected by thedepar tment.

Whether through the plas-tic bag legislation introducedin 2003, initiatives such asBuyisa-e-Bag, or its variousenvironmental protectioncampaigns, the DEA hasremained committed to thegoal of reducing plastic bagwa st e .

SELF-SUFFICIENT: Make your own compost to use in your garden.

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WA ST EIS

W E A LT H

WORKING TOGETHER FOR A SPOTLESS SOUTH AFRICA: It is important to take care of our oceans bykeeping the seaside clean.

EVERYONE SHOULD DO IT:Recycling is important tosustainabilit y.

HUMAN activities generate manyby-products which are seen asuseless and are discarded aswaste.

Increasing population growthaccompanied by urbanisation andindustrialisation has resulted indramatic increases in the volume ofwaste generated by modern soci-eties.

Waste creates problems in anumber of ways:

� It is aesthetically unattractiveand impacts on tourism by creatinga blight on South Africa’s beautifull a n d s c ap e ;

� It pollutes air, soil, rivers andprecious groundwater;

� It creates major health haz-ards to humans, particularly inareas where large amounts ofwaste are dumped and not cleanedup, for example in informal set-tlements; and� It fills up landfill sites which

are becoming more difficult andcostly to establish and maintain.

It is estimated that the totalamount of urban waste (domesticwaste) in South Africa is 15 milliontons a year.

Industries contribute about 25million tons a year to the wastest r e a m .

It is imperative that this waste bemanaged properly if it is to beprevented from having negativeenvironmental and health conse-quences.

Managing wasteWaste Management is one of the

critical elements of sustainabledevelopment, primarily becausesound waste management prac-tices contribute to sustainability.

Legislation regulating wastemanagement in South Africa hashistorically been fragmented, andstill is to some extent.

The March 2009, enactment ofthe National Environmental Man-agement: Waste Act (No 59 of 2008)presented a more holistic approachto the regulations for managingSouth Africa’s waste.

The bulk of the regulations setout in NEM: WA became effectiveon July 1 2009.

Within the waste sector we haveexperienced the following prob-lems:

� We have a legacy of contam-inated land;

� In the past we focused on land-filling;

� Economic growth and highwaste generation rates;

� Rural areas accessing wastecollection services;

� Increased urbanisation anddemand of access to services;

� Distorted pricing of waste ser-vices; and

� Under-utilisation of informalsector for reclamation of waste.

This has thus called for aparadigm shift towards a wastemanagement approach that seeksto conserve natural resources andprotect the environment by avoid-ing the production of waste in thefirst place, re-using, recycling orrecovering energy from that whichwe cannot avoid and using disposalas the last option.

Special attention is given to thepotential job/business opportuni-ties in this value chain.

Government has thus adoptedthe Waste Management Hierarchyas its basis for waste managementin the country.

The following are the buildingblocks for the implementation ofthe waste hierarchy:

� Norms and Standards;� Categorisation and Classifica-

tion;� Waste Information System;

� Recycling to remove massfrom the waste stream; and

� Recovery of chemicals, gasesand metals from waste.

Job creation in the Wastesector

With increasing unemploymentin South Africa, many people arefinding alternative means to gen-erate income.

One of these is to establish arecycling depot or a buy-back cen-tre.

The Department of Environmen-

Questions to ask yourselfbefore embarking on oneof the above-mentionedve n t u r e s :

� What recyclables are availablein your area (plastic, paper orcans)?

� What quantities are being pro-duced?

� At what rate are these beingg e n e r at e d ?

� How often are they available?� Around Christmas only or

throughout the year?� What companies are inter-

ested in buying your material?� How far are these companies

from your area?� Do you have transport to take

your waste to the companies?� Will you benefit from this

activity? Briefly match the needs ofrecycling companies to the recy-clables available in your commu-n i ty.

Waste collectionLocal authorities are primarily

responsible for waste collection.It is much more costly to clean up

litter left on streets and in publicspaces than it is to collect wastefrom formal household waste col-lection systems.

The public, therefore, has toaccept co-responsibility for thecleanliness of their towns and citiesand ensure that they dispose oflitter and waste in allocated bins.

It has been recognised that tra-ditional waste collection systemsare inappropriate, inefficient andcostly when applied to informals e tt l e m e n t s .

New innovative ways of man-aging waste in disadvantaged com-munities are required and so thetrend is to move towards commu-nity-based waste collection by pay-ing people to bring litter or waste toa central collection depot, andinvolving the community in pro-grammes to keep their neighbour-hoods clean.

Be a waste entrepreneur!Start collecting, re-using and

recycling waste and make moneyfrom your sales, be they crafts,compost or recycled materials suchas paper and tins.

RecyclingRecycling is an important option

for managing and reducing waste.Products which can be recycledare:

� Glass (bottles, broken window-panes);

� Paper (magazines, newspa-pers, office paper);

� Plastics (bags, bottles, contain-ers);

� Metals (beverage cans, scrapmetal); and

� Rubber (tyres).

LandfillsApproximately 95% of all urban

waste is disposed of on land, eitherin open trenches or in sanitarylandfills.

There are about 1 200 landfillsites in South Africa, most of themoperated by local authorities.

Each landfill site should have apermit issued by the Department ofWater Affairs and Forestry in con-sultation with the Department ofEnvironmental Affairs.

It is becoming more and moredifficult to create new landfill sitesas old ones become filled up.

It is imperative, therefore, thatwe reduce waste to be disposed inorder to increase the landfill lifes-pan.

Some important contacts:Environmental Affairs call cen-

tre: 086-111-2468Collect-a-can: (011) 466-2939Plastic Federation of SA:

(011) 314-4021Glass Recycling: (011) 874-0000Carlton Paper: (011) 616-1890Sappi Waste Paper: 0800-221-330Nampak Paper Recycling: 0800-

018-818Mondi Recycling: 0800-022-112

� Industry Waste ManagementPlans;

� Listing and Licensing of WasteManagement Activities;

� Producer Responsibility;� Economic Instruments; and� Fiscal Mechanisms.The emphasis is more on pre-

venting pollution and minimisingwaste at source since it is muchmore costly to clean up after-wa r d s .

This approach is based on thefo l l ow i n g :

� Reduction of waste throughreuse of waste products, for exam-ple using plastic packets and con-tainers in which products are soldto store things or using the blankside of printed paper before send-ing it to be recycled;

tal Affairs receives numerousenquiries and applications to sup-port these ventures.

Although most of these ventureshave environmental merit, theplanning is frequently inadequate.

There are various ways in whichcommunities can create workthrough projects that collect wastefrom where it is generated.

One of the popular models usedis the One Person Contract inwhich case individuals are respon-sible for collecting waste fromhouseholds.

They take it to central pointswhere another contractor with avehicle will collect and transport itto a transfer station or for dis-posal.

Transfer stationWaste is temporarily stored

here.Individuals can then sort the

waste into recyclables and non-r e cyc l ab l e s .

Recycables can either be organicor inorganic waste.

Do you know what a buy-backcentre is? What about a recyclingdepot?

� A buy-back centre is a placewhere people bring waste for col-lection. They are paid for the wastethey bring in; and

� At a recycling depot people arenot always paid for the materialsthey bring in for recycling.

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Is a waste sector career right for me?

Waste offendersfeel sting of theGreen Scorpions

THE environment provides manyexciting, interesting and satisfy-ing career choices stretchingacross a tremendous range offields and disciplines.

Working in the environmentalfield is rewarding because you cancontribute to the maintenance andconservation of essential life sys-tems necessary for survival.

The government has put envi-ronmental legislation in place, call-ing for much innovation in thissector. This means there is anationwide need for environmen-tally trained professionals toreverse environmental deteriora-tion, and to seize the opportunitiesto create more sustainable andenvironmentally responsible waysof satisfying our needs and wants.

Although there is a lot of overlap,universities of technology gener-ally focus on applied studies,whereas universities focus on fun-damental studies. Universities oftechnology generally do notrequire university exemption atm at r i c u l at i o n .

There are two main routes whichyou can take:

� A social-environmental per-sp e c t ive ; a n d

� An environmental science per-sp e c t ive .

It is important to note that thesetwo complement one another andeffective environmental manage-ment combines both these perspec-t ive s .

Social- environmentalcareers

Normally one progresses intothe social-environmental perspec-tive through a social science or arts

degree.Subjects may include anthropol-

ogy, archaeology, developmentstudies, geography and environ-mental studies, law (environmen-tal law), journalism (environmen-tal journalism) and education(environmental education).

Careers in this field are centredaround humans and their relationswith the environment, and ways ofmaking these relations beneficialto both people and the environ-ment.

Career path qualification:� Community conservation and

rural development: BA degree with

subjects such as anthropology,development studies, geographyand environmental studies.

� Environmental educators:H.dip Ed with subjects such asgeography or biology. Formal envi-ronmental education courses pur-sued at postgraduate level.

� Environmental lawyers: BALLB degree with environmentallaw as a subject.

� Environmental journalists: Noformal qualification other thanjournalism (degree or diploma).

� Cultural resource specialists:BA degree with subjects such asarchaeology, anthropology, politi-

cal and social studies or social his-t o r y.

� Eco-tourism specialists:Tourism degree or diploma withenvironmental interest.

Environmental sciencecareers

Environmental science careersstart by completing a sciencedegree at university or a relevantdiploma course at a university oft e c h n o l o g y.

Subjects in the natural sciencessuch as zoology, botany and ecol-ogy generally lead to a career path

in biodiversity conservation, butmay also lead to a career in envi-ronmental management.

Subjects in the physical sciencessuch as mathematics, physics andchemistry might lead to a careerpath in environmental manage-ment aspects such as pollution con-trol or waste management.

Landscape architects and civilengineers pursue environmentalmanagement through ensuringthat environmental concerns arebrought to bear on infrastructurald eve l op m e n t .

Career path qualification:� Environmental impact assess-

ment and environmental manage-ment: BSc degree in natural sci-ences with postgraduate courses inenvironmental management.

� Landscape architect: Land-scape architect degree at the Uni-versity of Pretoria or the Univer-sity of Cape Town.

� Nature conservation: Univer-sity of Technology diploma inNature Conservation or BSc degreewith subjects such as zoology,botany, ecology.

� Specialist scientists in biodi-versity, for example marine biol-ogist, zoologist, ecologist. Post-graduate degrees in zoology,botany and ecology, specialising inparticular fields of interest.

� Waste managers and pollutioncontrollers: BSc degree with sub-jects such as mathematics, physics,chemistry, climatology. Universityof technology diploma or degree inenvironmental science or engi-neering.

� Environmental engineers:Civil engineering degree or B Techdegree in civil engineering.

THERE was once a time when theterm “Green Scorpions” conjuredconfused faces because there wasinsufficient knowledge about therole they played in environmentallaw enforcement.

Those were the same times whenenvironmental offenders, includingthose in the waste sector, did notrealise the reality of strict sentencesof their crimes.

However, as the Department ofEnvironmental Affairs (DEA)increased its fight against theseoffenders and allowed the GreenScorpions more enforcement pow-ers, so the profile of the Green Scor-pions has grown.

Green Scorpions is the unofficialtitle of the Environmental Manage-ment Inspectorate (EMI).

EMI is made up of enforcementofficials from the three spheres ofgovernment: national, provincialand municipal.

The inspectorate was createdwhen an amendment to the NationalEnvironmental Management Act,107 of 1998 (Nema) came into effecton May 1 2005.

EMIs monitor compliance andenforce specific environmental leg-i s l at i o n .

They are also empowered toenforce permits, licences and EIAauthorisations (records of deci-sion).

The legislation that EMIs havebeen mandated to enforce include:� Ne m a ;� The National Environmental

Management: Biodiversity Act, 10 of

2004;� The National Environmental

Management: Protected Areas Act,57 of 2004 and its regulations; and

� The National EnvironmentalManagement: Air Quality Act, 39 of2004.

Included in the work of GreenScorpions is oversight of the wastemanagement sector. It is here thatthe stricter sentences for environ-mental crimes have been seen.

Sixty-four criminal dockets wereopened against environmentaloffenders in the 2010/11 financialyear. This is compared to 37 duringthe 2009/10 financial year and only 10in 2008/09.

In the 2010/11 financial year, therewas a court case in Gauteng whichresulted in a five-year prison sen-tence and a fine of R20 000 for theillegal dumping of waste.

There were three cases in the FreeState for the illegal dumping of med-ical waste, explosives and sewagespillage. The fines for these offenceswere R25 000, 12 months imprison-ment (suspended for three ye a r s )and a R1 000 fine plus six monthsimprisonment (suspended for fiveyears) respectively.

According to the Green Scorpions,75% of all medical waste disposalcompanies face, or have faced, crim-inal charges for various waste vio-l at i o n s .

Another example of stricterenforcement is how starting, under-taking or conducting a listed wastemanagement activity without therequired licence or failure to con-

duct a site assessment is subject to amaximum fine of R10-million and/orimprisonment for a period of up to 10ye a r s .

Furthermore, a person who is con-victed of an offence in terms of theWaste Act and who persists after theconviction or is guilty of omissionwill be committing a continuingoffence and may be liable to a finenot exceeding R1 000 and/or toimprisonment for a period notexceeding 20 days for each day sucha person persists in that act or isguilty of omission.

However, as hard as the GreenScorpions have been working to stopinfringements against waste man-agement laws, this cannot be donesingle-handedly. There is need forpublic co-operation.

As with any compliance andenforcement unit, the Green Scor-pions cannot be in all places at alltimes. They require the assistance ofordinary South Africans to helpidentify those breaking waste andother environmental laws in order tobring them to book.

South Africans need to be the eyesand ears of units such as the GreenScorpions in order to continue thefight against environmental offend-ers.

Where people find any environ-mental crimes being committed,they should alert the departmentthrough its 24-hour toll-free number:0800-205-005.

Together we can do more for theprotection and sustainability of oure nv i r o n m e n t .

THE RIGHT THING: The environment sector offers numerous avenues for young people looking foremployment and helps in job creation.

cyan magenta

yellow black •

Sow

etan •7

August

2012 •P

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WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITYREJOICE Mabudafhasi, DeputyMinister of Water and Environ-mental Affairs, handed overR11.4-million to Mopani DistrictMunicipality as part of MandelaMonth celebrations in Maruleng,Limpopo, on July 24.

The Department of Environmen-tal Affairs through its Environmen-tal Protection and InfrastructureProgramme (EPIP) is funding theimplementation of Mopani WasteRecycling and Buy-Back CentreProject in Mopani District Munic-ipality using labour intensive meth-ods as per the requirements ofExpanded Public Works Pro-gramme (EPWP).

“The objective of waste recyclingis to save resources as well as toreduce the environmental impactof waste by reducing the amount ofwaste disposed at landfills.

“To meet these objectives, wasteseparation at source should be pur-sued, as the quality of recyclablematerials is higher when separatedat source.

“In addition, recycling has thepotential for job creation and is aviable alternative to informal sal-vaging at landfills, which is unde-sirable due to problems of healthand safety associated with sal-vag i n g , ” said Mabudafhasi.

The project is focused on theestablishment of waste recyclingand buy-back facilities in Maru-leng, Greater Giyani and GreaterLetaba local municipalities respec-t ive ly.

Each facility comprise of thewaste sorting area, administrationblock, boundary fence, mainentrance gate, guard house, accessroad, parking and paving, signage,bulk infrastructure, ramp for load-ing and off-loading.

To this effect, the project hasemployed 96 local people. Amongthe people employed, 58 are womenand 56 are youth.

Deepening the Mandela Monthactivities, the deputy minister vis-ited Maatla Primary School whereshe led a team of government offi-cials and community members inthe following activities which inl-cluded planting trees, painting ofclassrooms, rehabilitating of bore-hole, connecting water tank,among other.

Speaking at Maatla PrimarySchool, Mabudafhasi, urged peopleto make a difference in other peo-ple’s lives and encouraged every-one to make every day a MandelaD ay.

GOING GREEN: Water andEnvironmental Affairs DeputyMinister Rejoice Mabudafhasihanded over R11.4-million toMopani District Municipality inLimpopo as part of MandelaMonth celebrations to fund animplement the Mopani WasteRecycling and Buy-Back CentreProject.