Waste Classification

Domestic waste

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• Business waste not containing hazardous waste or chemicals

• Uncontaminated building and demolition waste

• Waste tyres

• Garden waste

• Post consumer packaging

• Non-infectious animal carcasses

• Uncontaminated, excavated earth

• Hazardous Waste 2(b)

• Asbestos waste

• PCB waste or PCB containing waste

• Expired, spoilt or unusable hazardous products

• General waste (excluding domestic waste) which contains hazardous waste or hazardous chemicals

• Mixed hazardous chemical waste from analytical or academic laboratories in containers less than 100 litres

• Health care risk waste

 

General Requirements:

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• Generators must ensure their waste is re-used, recycled, recovered, treated and/or disposed of within 18 months of generation

• Waste managers must not store waste for more than 18 months from the date of receipt of the waste

• Waste that was stored in an existing facility prior to promulgation of the Regulations must be re-used, recycled, recovered, treated or disposed of within 5 years of the commencement of the Regulations.

• Waste may not be diluted to solely to reduce the concentration of its constituents for purposes of classification or assessment for landfill disposal

• Waste containers must be labelled, or where labelling is not possible, records must be kept, reflecting:

  • Category of waste as per the Waste Information Regulations, 2012

  • Date of containerisation

  • Date when container was filled, sealed or covered

  • Classification of the waste.

 

Waste Treatment

 

Waste may not be mixed or treated where this would

• Reduce the potential for re-use, recycling or recovery -Or – Where the treatment is not controlled

• May blend or pre-treat the waste to – Encourage the re-use, recycling, recovery or treatment, or

• Reduce the risk of the waste

 

SDS generation

Generators of hazardous waste must ensure a safety data sheet is prepared and accompanies the waste at all times

 

• Holders of hazardous waste (excluding HCRW) must be in possession of the relevant SDS for the waste

• Contents of SDS as per SANS 10234:

• Source and composition of waste

• Hazard’s identification

• Physical and chemical properties

• Toxicological and ecological effects

• Transport

• Disposal options

• First aid/fire-fighting measures

• Handling and storage

 

Consequences and deadlines

Landfills are instructed not to receive wastes that aren’t classified; The deadline which was in August 2016, was to have all waste excluding waste listed in Annexure 1 above classified according to the new regulations.

 

If you require a full waste classification for a hazardous waste stream, please contact Louise van Zyl at 064 658 6500 or henquewastecbs@icloud.com

 

Additional info you might find valuable:

 

SAWIS /GWIS Registration guidelines:

The South African Waste Information Regulation GRN 625 (NEMA (59/2008). states that all HAZARDOUS WASTE generators must register onto the system. Effective since 13 Aug 2012. These regulations don’t apply if you only generate general waste.

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Trigger for generators – Generators of hazardous waste in excess of 20kg per day.

Here are the steps below:

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Go to http://sawic.environment.gov.za click on central registry or http://www.gwis.gpg.gov.za/pages/display/register

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   1  If you want to read about who should register – click who should register.

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   2   You can also select to confirm you aren’t registered before completing the registration process.

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   3   Select Register

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   4   Select the drop down and select your and .

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   5   Complete the registration form and click on the button.

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   6   If you wish to review information or add another activity, click on

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   7   Click

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   8   Once Registration is completed you will receive an email to notify you that your registration is           

         awaiting authorisation.

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   9   You will be sent a second email upon the approval of your registration. This will contain the unique                   registration number, a username and password, which may be used to log onto the website to         

         update or amend information as and when required.

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   10  Final step: Obtain SAWIS certificate

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What happens if you do not register?

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The waste regulation GNR 625 stipulates that all HAZARDOUS WASTE generators must comply and failing to comply or providing incorrect/misleading information, if convicted, will result in:

1. Imprisonment for a period not exceeding fifteen (15) years;

2. An appropriate fine;

3. or both a fine and imprisonment

 

Further to this, hazardous waste management facilities refuse to accept waste from generators without a valid WIS number which means waste cannot be removed off site.

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Hazardous Waste:

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What is Hazardous Waste?

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Definition according to NEMWA (National Environmental Management Waste Act):

"hazardous waste" means any waste that contains organic or inorganic elements or compounds that may, owing to the inherent physical, chemical or toxicological characteristics of that waste, have a detrimental impact on health and the environment;                                                                                       

 

"general waste" means waste that does not pose an immediate hazard or threat to health or to the environment, and includes—

(a) domestic waste;

(b) building and demolition waste;

(c) business waste: and

(d) inert waste

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