GENERAL WASTE COLLECTION STANDARDS
FOR GAUTENG
(Incorporating Cleaning Standards)
FEBRUARY 2010
Acknowledgements
The Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development wishes to acknowledge the
input from Zitholele Consulting on the development of the General Waste Collection
Standards as well as all the stakeholders who have contributed during the public
participation process.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Glencairn Building, 73 Market Street, Johannesburg
P O Box 8769, Johannesburg, 2000
Telephone: (011) 355-1900
Fax: (011) 355-1000
Email: gdard@gauteng.gov.za
Website : www.gdard.gpg.gov.za
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION
1
PAGE
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 1
1.1
What is a Standard?......................................................................................... 1
1.2
Structure of the Standards ............................................................................... 1
1.3
Use of the Standards........................................................................................ 2
1.4
Assistance, commentary on standards and contact with GDARD ................ 2
2
OBJECTIVES OF THESE GENERAL WASTE COLLECTION STANDARDS .......... 3
3
DEFINITIONS..................................................................................................................... 3
4
APPLICABLE LEGISLATION ......................................................................................... 4
5
APPROACH TO DEVELOPING THE STANDARDS .................................................... 5
5.1
Investigation Report outcomes ........................................................................ 5
6
PRINCIPLES FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF STANDARDS ........................................... 5
6.1
Health, Environment and Quality of Life........................................................ 5
7
6.2
Integrated waste management approach ......................................................... 6
6.3
Worker health and safety ................................................................................ 7
LEVEL OF SERVICE ......................................................................................................... 7
7.1
Waste collection service levels ....................................................................... 7
7.2
8
Free basic services........................................................................................... 9
STANDARDS ..................................................................................................................... 9
8.1
Collection ...................................................................................................... 10
8.1.1 Domestic - Separation at source collection ................................................ 10
(a) Storage containers .........................................................................10
(b) Frequency of collection.................................................................11
(c) Collection service ..........................................................................11
8.1.2 Domestic - Routine Door-to-door service .................................................. 11
(a) Storage containers .........................................................................11
(b) Frequency of collection.................................................................13
(c) Collection ......................................................................................13
(d) Primary collection in high density areas (such as informal
settlements) ............................................................................................14
8.1.3 Domestic - Bulk container service ............................................................. 14
(a) Storage containers .........................................................................14
(a) Frequency ......................................................................................15
(b) Secondary Collection Service (at high density areas such as
informal settlements) .............................................................................15
(c) Collection ......................................................................................15
8.1.4 Business/Industrial waste collection (small container and bulk
collection) .................................................................................................. 16
(a) Storage Containers ........................................................................16
(b) Frequency of collection.................................................................17
(c) Collection service ..........................................................................17
(d) Separation at source collection .....................................................18
8.1.5 Special events............................................................................................. 19
(a) Pre-arranged Events ......................................................................19
(b) Non Pre-arranged Events ..............................................................20
8.2
Cleaning Standards........................................................................................ 20
8.2.1 Cleaning ..................................................................................................... 21
(a) Litter containers ............................................................................21
(b) High use areas (including town and city centres) .........................22
(c) Other areas requiring regular cleaning ..........................................23
(d) Leaf Removal ................................................................................23
(e) Lane flushing.................................................................................24
(f) Removal of animal kills .................................................................24
(g) Mechanical Sweeping ...................................................................24
(h) Cleaning Frequency ......................................................................25
(j) Cleaning service.............................................................................25
(j) Traffic Safety .................................................................................26
8.2.2 Illegal dumping .......................................................................................... 26
8.3
Transport ....................................................................................................... 27
8.4
Health and Safety .......................................................................................... 28
8.5
Recording of complaints ............................................................................... 30
9
HOME COMPOSTING .................................................................................................... 31
10
IMPLEMENTATION ....................................................................................................... 31
10.1
Critical risks to implementation .................................................................... 31
10.1.1 Human resource capacity ........................................................................... 32
10.1.2 Financial capacity and implications ........................................................... 32
Costing / Tariff setting ...........................................................................33
10.1.3 Lack of education and awareness............................................................... 34
10.1.4 Population and economic growth ............................................................... 34
10.1.5 Economic factors........................................................................................ 34
10.1.6 Legislative and governmental processes .................................................... 35
10.1.7 Reporting.................................................................................................... 35
10.2
Implementation plan (explanation of the phased approach) ......................... 36
10.3
11
Sustainability ................................................................................................. 36
PERFORMANCE & MONITORING .............................................................................. 37
11.1
Key Performance Indicators .......................................................................... 38
11.2
Monitoring responsibilities and monitoring periods ..................................... 39
11.2.1 Responsibilities .......................................................................................... 39
11.2.2 Monitoring requirements and periods ........................................................ 39
12
EVALUATION AND REVIEW ...................................................................................... 39
13
THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADDITIONAL WASTE MANAGEMENT
STANDARDS FOR GAUTENG...................................................................................... 40
LIST OF APPENDICES
APPENDIX 1. List of definitions for the General Waste Collection Standards for Gauteng.
APPENDIX 2. Details of relevant key legislation related to the General Waste Collection
Standards for Gauteng
APPENDIX 3. Key issues identified from the Investigation Report
APPENDIX 4. List of possible cleansing standards for metropolitan municipalities
APPENDIX 5. Information on National Treasury Funding
APPENDIX 6. Examples and illustration of storage containers, vehicles and transport
equipment
APPENDIX 7. Photo Graphic Standard
APPENDIX 8. Reference material on litter cleanliness codes of practice and user manuals
(international)
APPENDIX 9. Template of area cleaning plan
1
INTRODUCTION
The following General Waste Collection Standards (GWCS) have been developed to ensure
the provision of consistent, uniform waste collection and cleaning services which are
equitable, appropriate, environmentally and socially acceptable, to the communities in
Gauteng,. Section 152 (1) of the Constitution states that one of the responsibilities of local
government is to ensure the provision of services to communities in a sustainable manner. It
indicates that provincial government has the exclusive responsibility to ensure that local
governments carry out these functions effectively. The National Waste Management Strategy
(NWMS) and the National Environmental Management: Waste Act , Act 59 of 2008
,(“Waste Act”) which is the legislative enactment of the NWMS, stipulate Provincial
Government’s role in developing standards for the provision of waste management services
and waste collection. These standards will ultimately be promulgated as provincial
regulations. These GWCS should be used to supplement the existing by-laws and should at no
time be in conflict with the municipal by-laws.
It is the purpose of these standards to promote a healthy environment for the general public.
The GWCS deal with the technical aspects of waste collection service delivery within
Gauteng and detail various collection requirements. The GWCS developed for Gauteng are
minimum standards which are applicable to all service providers involved in the provision
waste collection services within Gauteng. The minimum standards are outcomes based, with
standards focussing on end results. How these outcomes are achieved, with respect to the
methodology used is up to the service provider, provided the procedures, methodologies and
systems used adhere to a number of aspects indicated within this standards document.
Therefore these minimum GWCS accommodate the smaller local municipalities and the
larger metropolitan municipalities in Gauteng as well as the smaller and larger private service
providers.
The GWCS document has been divided into a number of sections which consider aspects
associated with the standards such as definitions and related legislation, levels of service; the
specified standards; tools and barriers to implementation; monitoring; PPP, etc.
1.1
What is a Standard?
The South African National Standards Authority (2005) states that “a Standard is a
published document which lists specifications and procedures established to ensure that a
material, product, method or service is fit for its purpose and performs in the manner it was
intended for. Standards define quality and establish safety criteria. Conformance to standards
ensures quality and consistency”.
1.2
Structure of the Standards
For the purposes of the GWCS document it is understood that “General” waste refers to urban
domestic and business waste (including building waste), non-hazardous industrial waste and
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not hazardous waste, health care waste or liquid wastes. The word “collection” in the phrase
General Waste Collection Standards, refers to both the collection operation, which constitutes
the formal waste stream which is controlled from generation to the transfer or disposal point,
and the cleaning operation, which addresses the informal waste stream, i.e. that waste which
is not controlled such as litter and illegal dumping.
The standards are therefore made up of two main components namely:

Waste Collection (domestic and bussiness/non-hazardous industrial waste); and

Cleaning (street sweeping, litter picking, littering and illegal dumping)
In addition, the standards also cover other waste management activities and related issues
such as health and safety, and transport.
1.3
Use of the Standards
These GWCS have been developed to be used by all waste collection service providers active
within Gauteng. It is the intention of GDARD that these standards are fully implemented and
their implementation will be monitored. The service provider must ensure that training is
given to all employees on the content of the standards and implementation. Any issues or
problems associated with implementation of the standards must be communicated to
GDARD (Section 1.4) so that they can be taken into account during subsequent reviews of
the standards.
1.4
Assistance, commentary on standards and contact with GDARD
For assistance in understanding and implementing the GWCS within current services, the
GDARD Waste Management Directorate can be contacted, details of which are provided
below:
Tel:
(011) 355-1900
Fax:
(011) 355-1000
Address:
Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
Waste Directorate
P.O.Box 8769
Johannesburg
2000
Email: gdard@gauteng.gov.za
Website : www.gdard.gpg.gov.za
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Any comments on the GWCS document that will aid in improving the standards and ensure
practical implementation of the standards, should be sent to GDARD for assessment. These
comments must be in writing and should indicate the writer’s name and contact details.
2
OBJECTIVES OF THESE GENERAL WASTE COLLECTION
STANDARDS
The objectives of these general waste collection standards are:

To ensure that human health and the environment is not compromised by the provision of
waste collection services;

To enable uniformity, and equitable waste management service

To provide the minimum standards by which any service provider engaged in waste
collection must comply;

To ensure a consistent level of cleanliness that is environmentally and socially acceptable;

To support best practice;

To provide the generator of general waste with the minimum standards and service levels
to be adhered to by the responsible authority and any service provider;

To uphold the principles of Integrated Waste Management and the waste hierarchy;

To facilitate separation at source for the continuing reduction of waste disposed to
landfill; and

To consider a system of monitoring and regulation for the implementation of the
standards by the service providers and assessing the effectiveness of the standards.
3
DEFINITIONS
In order to ensure that terms are always used in the same context and everyone using these
standards has the same understanding of a specific term, a list of the most frequently used
terms in waste collection and cleaning practices are included below. Most of the definitions
listed have been obtained from the Waste Act, the Gauteng Integrated Waste Management
Policy and compared to the approved definitions developed by GDARD as part of the
guideline document for Integrated Waste Management Planning for Local Authorities. In
addition, those terms not found within these aforementioned documents, were investigated in
other South Africa legislation and guideline documents as well as international ordinances. It
is advised that these definitions are adopted when local by-laws are revised. The list of
definitions has been attached as Appendix 1. However, the Gauteng Provincial Integrated
Waste Management Policy (2005) has adopted the National Waste Classification System as
the foundation for all waste classification in the Province and embraces a system of
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classification of waste that facilitates the separation at source of different waste types. This is
particularly true in some cases, where a waste stream may be considered a resource for
recovery and reuse or recycling purposes, including the generation of energy.
4
APPLICABLE LEGISLATION
Numerous legislative documents relating to waste, waste management, service provision and
related issues such as transport, health and safety, etc. have been promulgated. Not only does
legislation prescribe what is required by all levels of government, civil society and industry,
but it is often explicit in the roles and responsibilities of government. Legislation is a key tool
used to drive the establishment of the GWCS, as well as for the effective implementation of the
standards. Notwithstanding this, the GWCS can be viewed as a key regulatory mechanism to
implement legislative requirements.
For the purposes of this document, current and impending legislation are important for a
number of reasons, namely:

It establishes the current parameters and/or requirements which must be taken into
account in the development and implementation of the GWCS; and

It determines the institutional powers, functions and responsibilities of the different
spheres of government (including local government).
Details of relevant key legislation related to the GWCS are included in Appendix 2. However,
a list of the relevant legislation is given below:

The Constitution Act no. 108 of 1996;

The Municipal Systems Act no. 32 of 2000 and Amendment Act no. 44 of 2003;

The Environmental Conservation Act no. 73 of 1989 ;

National Environmental Management Act no. 107 of 1998;

The National Health Act no. 61 of 2003;

Municipal Finance Management Act no. 56 of 2004;

National Road Traffic Act no. 93 of 1996;

Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993;

National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act 103 of 1977 (Regs. No: R
432, 8 March 1991):

National Environmental Management: Waste Act, Act 59 of 2008;

Waste Management By-laws;

Standards, guidelines and policies
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
The Integrated Pollution and Waste Management Policy and the National Waste
Management Strategy;

The Gauteng Provincial Integrated Waste Management Policy;

Minimum Waste Recycling Standards for South Africa; and

Draft National Waste Collection Standard Guidelines.
5
APPROACH TO DEVELOPING THE STANDARDS
5.1
Investigation Report outcomes
As part of the development of the GWCS, the compilation of an Investigation Report was
conducted to understand the current waste collection and cleaning situation within Gauteng as
well as report on case studies and best practice examples from a national and international
perspective. A number of key issues have been identified from the studies conducted which
have been used to inform the development of the GWCS and are included in Appendix 3.
6
PRINCIPLES FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF STANDARDS
A number of critical elements crucial to the development of the GWCS have been described
within this section. Not only is it essential that a waste service is provided, but the underlying
principles or elements associated with this practice need to be defined.
6.1
Health, Environment and Quality of Life
Quality of life is enshrined as a core value of the Constitution of South Africa. Within the Bill
of Rights in the Constitution, the rights may be viewed as having direct or indirect relevance
to the environment. The environmental right can be divided into two components i.e. the right
to a clean and healthy environment and a positive obligation on the state to pass legislation to
give effect to that right.
Within the Bill of Rights it becomes clear that:

all organs of state are bound by the right and must give effect to it;

in giving effect to the right, the state must establish an effective regulatory framework;
and

that as poor waste management practises can lead to pollution, ecological degradation and
negative health effects, an effective waste management system will fall within the ambit
of the right.
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In addition to the Constitution, the issue of adequate and effective waste management has
always been directly linked to the issue of human health and the consequential effects of poor
waste management on human health.
6.2
Integrated waste management approach
The Waste Act follows the waste management hierarchy approach, which is an internationally
accepted approach underpinning integrated waste management. The waste management
hierarchy prioritises waste management options, in descending order of priority by promoting
and encouraging waste reduction:

Firstly by preventing the generation of waste;

Secondly introducing waste minimisation (where the quantity of waste is reduced which
is often related to the introduction of cleaner production technologies);

Thirdly establishing recycling of waste (re-use, recovery and composting);

Fourthly considering treatment to reduce the harmful effects of waste (physical, thermal
and chemical destruction); and

Finally implementing the practice of safe waste disposal.
The South African government has adopted this approach as a tool to reduce waste generation
and disposal as well as to meet the targets stated within the Polokwane Declaration 2001.
Within the context of the GWCS, this approach relates to waste recycling of post consumer
waste and in particular the requirements necessary for collection. The Service Providers must
introduce, implement and/or facilitate separation at source. Separating out recyclables and or
compostables at the point of generation (domestic and business entities) is required to:

Assist the service provider in the collection of recyclables, thereby preventing double
handling of all domestic waste at a secondary point, which could have associated health
and safety issues, as well as increased costs;

Limit contamination of recyclables guarantees a higher selling price;

Focus on specific recyclables that can currently be recycled and that have a viable end
market;

Create a waste awareness/consciousness for the generator of the waste which will further
enhance the prevention or minimisation of waste generated;

Aid in diverting waste away from landfill and reduce the unnecessary consumption of
valuable airspace.
It must be noted however, that additional mechanisms and facilities will be required to handle,
treat and process the recyclables collected at source. Ensuring sustainability and financial
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viability within all aspects of the recycling cycle is critical. The recycling program should be
dictated by the best available technology not entailing excessive cost (BATNEEC).
6.3
Worker health and safety
As waste collection and cleaning is labour intensive, there are a number of critical health and
safety issues that come into play which have to be taken account of in the GWCS:

The type of work undertaken by waste collectors and cleaners is more often than not very
physically demanding;

That waste in itself is unhealthy and hazardous at times;

Equipment and vehicles used by workers can be complex and highly mechanised;

Work is often undertaken in difficult and relatively unsafe environments; and

Service delivery and productivity is directly linked to ensuring the health and safety of the
workers.
7
LEVEL OF SERVICE
7.1
Waste collection service levels
In waste collection terms, the “level of service” refers to the frequency of the waste removal
service and the type of service provided. There are various levels of service that can be
applied in the provision of waste collection services, with a consequent increase in the cost of
the service with increasing levels of sophistication of the service. Having said that
introducing waste minimisation can be a cost saver, as less waste needs to be collected, less
waste is landfilled and a product can be derived from recyclable waste.
In terms of the National Government policy, every person / household has a right to be
provided with at least the basic level of municipal services. Regarding waste collection, the
basic level of service is seen as the removal of waste from the dwelling area at least once
per week, in a safe and healthy manner. The frequency of collection may be increased from
once per week if:

The residents have insufficient storage space due to the high density of dwellings;

The storage containers have insufficient capacity to store a week’s waste without
overflowing and causing a litter problem;

The waste is of such a nature that it would cause a health hazard if left for a week before
collection (e.g. highly putrescible waste).
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Table 1 indicates the criteria to be used for solid waste removal service levels. All local
municipalities involved in the delivery of waste management services must comply with these
criteria and should provide a basic level of service as a minimum.
For the Basic Level of Service, households should have adequate on-site storage containers
which can also be used to transport waste to the communal container. The communal
containers should be placed within reasonable walking distance (200 m) of the households,
and the communal containers should be such as to allow for easy dumping of waste.
Table 1: Levels of Domestic Waste Collection Service for Urban Areas
Level of service
Basic Level of Service
Service option
Community transfer
to central collection
points
Intermediate Level of
Service
Organised transfer
to central collection
points
Full Level of Service
Kerbside collection
Explanation of service
(a) Community appointed members collect the waste door-to-door at
least once per week (or more frequently if required).
(b) They transport it to central collection points located within
acceptable walking distance of the households serviced (200m).
(c) The municipality, or appointed contractor, then transports the
waste from these secondary collection points to the landfill, on
the same day as the primary collection.
(a) Local contractors are appointed to collect the waste door-to-door
at least once per week (or more frequently if required).
(b) They transport it to central collection points, perhaps using hand
or bicycle-carts. The municipality, or appointed contractor, then
transports the waste from these secondary collection points to the
landfill, on the same day as the primary collection.
(a) Households put their separated out waste out for collection once
a week (or more frequently if required).
(b) The municipality or appointed contractors collect the recyclable
and residual waste from each household in trucks, or with
tractors and trailers, etc. and transports it to the landfill and or
recycling handling facility.
For Rural Areas, the following is recommended regarding levels of service:

In dense rural settlements, service levels would be similar to those indicated in Table 1
for urban areas.

In scattered rural areas and farms, on-site disposal may be appropriate if the composition
of the waste is primarily organic and if households are sparsely settled. However, if
appropriate on-site disposal facilities do not exist both rural households and farms may
require a regular waste removal service via either communal or individual collection.

In no circumstances may waste be burnt by any service provider.
For Businesses, the minimum level of service for routine collected waste would be at least
once per week, or more frequently in the case of highly putrescible wastes (e.g. wastes from
restaurants, hotels, food shops, markets, etc). However, an exception can be made in cases
where the frequency can be determined by type and quantity, where a generator of small
quantities of inert dry waste which does not pose a health, safety and environmental threat can
safely be provided with a service not less than every two weeks.
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In addition, bulk waste collection services can be provided to the business/commercial sector,
in which case the bulk containers would be collected on call when full.
There are a number of waste collection services that are provided by the larger local
authorities such as the Metropolitan Municipalities, which are not necessarily applicable in
the smaller municipalities. This list of Cleansing Services showing the appropriate service
levels is included in Appendix 4 for reference.
7.2
Free basic services
The national government in 2000 initiated a Free Basic Services Policy aimed at the provision
of free basic municipal services to every poor household in the country. While local
government is charged with the service delivery and implementation role, national
government is responsible for assistance with the provision of the financial resources to local
government, and provincial governments must monitor the implementation and provide
support if necessary. Municipalities can either receive their part of the equitable share, or they
can apply for infrastructure grants or raise their own revenue through service charges. Details
regarding National Treasury Funding (Equitable Share and MIG) are included in Appendix 5.
Municipalities however, need to analyse what their costs for free basic service provision is,
what allocations they receive and what their internal resource base is. This should then form
the basis of what would be affordable and therefore what the most suitable options for
implementation would be.
The Department of Planning and Local Government suggests that targeted subsidies are often
the preferred approach. Targeting of subsidies requires the identification of poor households
and would normally occur within the framework of an indigents or pro-poor policy of a
municipality. The source of income for free basic service subsidies can be from cross
subsidies within the municipality or from external operating subsidies, primarily the equitable
share. The use of service level differentiation may also be needed to implement a free basic
municipal services strategy. Where it is unaffordable to provide a high level of service to all
households, regardless of whether they are contributing to the costs of the service or not, a
municipality can provide some households with a lower, yet adequate service level. In this
manner a municipality can provide free basic services to all households, with some
households choosing to receive, and pay for, a higher level of service. This would however
have to be by area rather than by individual households.
Based on the foregoing, the Basic Level of Waste Collection Service as indicated in Table 1
would be considered as the minimum Free Basic Service to be provided.
8
STANDARDS
Holistically, the temporary storage, collection and transporting of waste shall be conducted in
a manner which will:
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
Inhibit the harbouring of flies, rodents, and other vectors;

Prevent situations arising for the transmission of diseases to man or animals;

Prevent wind blown litter so as not to be injurious to human health and the environment;

Prevent water pollution by limiting the escape of waste or leachate, which could impact
stormwater management systems; and

Minimise offensive odours, dust, unsightliness, and aesthetically unsightly conditions,
and prevent the accumulation of materials in an untidy and unsafe manner so as to
become a fire, health and safety hazard.
The following minimum standards have been developed for the different types of waste
collection services offered to both the domestic and business/industrial sectors for the
collection of general non-hazardous wastes. It must be noted that if a local authority contracts
in a service provider to undertake work on its behalf, a service level agreement/contract needs
to be drawn up between the two parties and the standards will be applicable to the service
provider.
Examples and illustrations of storage containers, collection vehicles and equipment is given in
Appendix 6 to compliment what is provided in the text.
All Service Providers to take note that they must be registered with their local authority
if they collect and transport waste within that municipal area.
8.1
Collection
8.1.1
Domestic - Separation at source collection
Service Providers must have a clearly defined policy on separation at source and in the case of
local authorities, supported by appropriate by-laws.
At the outset of separation at source practices in Gauteng, the following minimum standards
shall apply:
(a)
Storage containers
The service provider will only collect waste in containers which are suitable for this collection
system. The minimum standards for containers are as follows:
i.
Containers can include a bag (bin liner), reusable bins (such as 120l or 240l bins) or
reusable fibre type bags.
ii. Containers will be colour coded blue being the approved standard colour, which will
identify the container as exclusively for recyclable material within the Gauteng Province.
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iii. Recyclable containers must be watertight and with a thickness sufficient to prevent
breakage, tearing or splitting upon collection and shall be securely tied.
iv. Blue disposable bags (bin liners) should either be made of material which is recyclable
and or contain a blend of the maximum practicable recyclable content and virgin plastic
(thickness is sufficient to prevent breakage, tearing or splitting upon collection).
v. These bags shall have an overall length of between 0.5 meters and 1 meter when empty.
(b)
i.
Frequency of collection
The service provider shall collect recyclable waste (dry waste component) at least once a
week.
(c)
i.
Collection service
The service provider will communicate with the community provided with a source
separation service regarding the system, what recyclables should be separated out, where
recyclables will be transported to, etc. and will develop a comprehensive awareness and
education programme.
ii. The Service Provider will be identifiable to the community by way of uniforms or ID
tags/badges, bibs, etc.
iii. A two colour container waste separation at source system shall be implemented by the
service provider, providing a routine door-to-door service. One colour container
(preferably black, but any colour other than blue) for non-recyclable material and the
other container (blue) for mixed recyclable material.
iv. Service providers shall offer the collection of recyclable materials at least once a week
from every household as part of the door-to-door routine collection service.
v. The service provider may indicate which recyclable materials must be separated out
depending on the current market and use of the recyclable material.
vi. The recycling container must be clearly identifiable, and in this case, the colour blue will
be used to mark the containers. Only blue containers will be collected for recycling.
vii. The service provider shall ensure that once recyclables are collected, the area is left clean
and tidy.
8.1.2
(a)
Domestic - Routine Door-to-door service
Storage containers
If containers are supplied by the service provider, the following standards apply:
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i.
Containers must be adequate for the storage of waste and can include reusable 240l
wheeled bins, and 85l bins, and 85l bin liners. The specifications of the containers must
be in compliance with the SANS standards for bins (SANS 493:1973 - Steel refuse bins;
SANS 1310:1980 - Refuse bins of polymeric materials; SANS 1494:1989 - Mobile refuse
bins).
ii. Reusable containers shall be:
a. Rigid and durable;
b. Corrosion resistant;
c. Non-absorbent and watertight;
d. Rodent-proof and easily cleanable;
e. Equipped with a close-fitting cover;
f. Suitable for handling with no sharp edges or other hazardous conditions;
iii. If bin liners are used, the following specifications and requirements shall be utilised for
the purposes of collection:
a. Bin liners must be a minimum 30 micron thick and contain a blend of the maximum
practicable recyclable content and virgin plastic (thickness is sufficient to prevent
breakage, tearing or splitting upon collection, but should also not compromise the
expected brittleness required by landfilling).
b. Bin liners must be watertight and securely tied with an overall length of between 0.5
meters and 1 meter when empty.
c. Bin liners may be in any other colour, except blue as this is the colour for containers
which will be used exclusively for storage of recyclable waste.
d. The weight of each bag, including contents, placed for recyclable materials
collection must not exceed 12 kilograms.
iv. As a minimum, the service provider can accept waste from any of the containers
mentioned above as well as variations to these containers, provided the containers are
durable, easy to handle and sealed.
v. The service provider may only accept plastic shopping bags for collection of mixed waste
from informal areas.
vi. The maximum number of containers provided to and/or used by the waste generator and
placed out for collection must be specified by the service provider.
vii. The maximum number of containers put out for collection determined by the service
provider, needs to be based on the principles of the waste hierarchy; prevention,
minimisation, reduction, recycling and reuse of waste. The least amount of containers
which will be adequate for a household’s waste generation shall be regarded as the
minimum standard. Any additional containers will be regarded as excessive waste and the
generator must be dealt with through the provisions of the by-laws.
viii. Access to the storage containers must be defined by the service providers, with the
location specified as the kerbside (pavement).
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(b)
Frequency of collection
When service providers establish collection frequencies, account needs to be taken of
generation rates, waste composition and storage capacity.
i.
The Service Provider shall provide, as a minimum standard, a once per week collection
service (for households, dwellings and multi-dwelling complexes).
ii. The service will be provided on a weekly cycle .
iii. The minimum standard on the frequency of collection will have to increase if the
following factors have been identified in an area:
a. Storage space is limited due to high density living conditions
b. Containers are filled with waste in a time period of less than 1 week
c. Health of the community or residents is compromised by the accumulation of the
waste
(c)
Collection service
The following minimum standards shall apply for all routine door-to-door collection services:
i.
Collection of recyclable waste could undertaken by:
a. A service provider,
b. A separate recycling contractor,
c. Formal kerbside salvagers
ii. Recyclable waste containers shall be placed out on the same day of the residual waste
collection. Recyclables not collected before the routine door-to-door residual waste
collection shall be treated at residual waste. This is provided that the collection system
used does not accommodate simultaneous collection of the two different waste streams.
iii. During each collection operation, all waste placed out for collection shall be removed;
iv. After emptying, each bin shall be returned to its designated place so as not to cause undue
obstruction to pedestrian traffic;
v. The service provider shall be responsible for immediately cleaning up all spillage caused
by their operations. This will be done immediately by the vehicle crew responsible for the
spillage;
vi. The service provider shall not create undue noise in residential areas in and through
which they operate;
vii. Waste collection shall, under normal circumstances, not take place outside of the hours
between 06:00 and 18:00.
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viii. For multi-dwelling complexes (townhouses, flats, clusters, etc.), containers brought to the
specified communal collection area shall be collected by the service provider. Access to
the storage areas must be ensured.
ix. If bins are used by the complex residents, these shall be replaced, upright, where found.
Containers shall be properly returned to enclosures where applicable.
(d)
i.
Primary collection in high density areas (such as informal settlements)
In extremely high-density areas, primary collection will best be carried out by manually
carrying the bags of waste to dedicated secondary collection sites as per the definition.
ii. Service providers should use equipment fit for use, such as trolleys, handcarts, donkey
carts, etc., for the carting of waste to the secondary collection sites in less densely
populated areas where greater distances would need to be covered.
iii. The trolleys/carts must be designed and constructed to take account of the loads to be
carried, and the conditions of the roads and tracks to be traversed.
iv. Issues related to cleanliness, noise, spillage, etc. as indicated above, should be included
within this specific service.
v. Primary collectors must have suitable protective clothing for the task of waste collection
and as minimum standard overalls, boots and gloves should be worn by collectors.
8.1.3
(a)
i.
Domestic - Bulk container service
Storage containers
Bulk containers used in this service, are more often used for the communal collection of
waste from informal areas or areas which cannot be accessed by a waste collection
vehicle. The Service Provider must make special arrangements to move waste to a point
that is both accessible to the collection vehicle and where the stored waste will not create
a nuisance. Containers which can be used require adequate volume to accommodate large
amounts of waste coming from numerous households. These types of containers need to
comply with the following minimum standards and must be:
a. Rigid and durable,
b. Corrosion resistant,
c. Rodent-proof and easily cleanable,
d. Easily accessible,
e. Containers must be fitted with reflectors.
ii.
If underground storage systems are used by Service Providers all relevant specifications
to ensure the adequate storage of waste and collection of waste has to be complied with.
Prevention of the accumulation of water as well as the release of leachate has to be
ensured.
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(b) Frequency of collection
i.
Service providers’ must empty the bulk containers or collect waste from the communal
area within 24 hours of being deposited,.
(c) Secondary Collection Service (at high density areas such as informal settlements)
i.
The service provider shall take cognisance of the NWMS guidelines for collection in
high density unserviced areas regarding the provision of services to these areas.
ii.
Service providers must strategically position secondary collection sites to suit the
maximum walking distance of the primary collector.
iii. Secondary collection sites must be placed taking into account the distance of the nearest
dwellings and how they will be affected by the containers, especially from a traffic
(vehicle and pedestrian), accumulated waste, and nuisance factor point of view. These
secondary sites should be identified for current and future planning of waste collection in
the spatial development framework to ensure that there will always be provision of space
(i.e. open land).
iv. Secondary collection sites should be clearly demarcated, maintained and kept clean by
the service provider.
v.
Where bulk containers are used for secondary collection sites, consideration must be
given to ensuring that the primary collectors can easily deposit the waste into the
containers. Where necessary, split-levels such as ramps must be provided.
vi. All waste must be removed from the containers or the communal secondary collection
point.
vii. All containers must be cleaned on a regular basis to prevent disease and nuisance effects
such as odours, flies and vectors.
viii. The vehicles used in secondary collection must be suitable for the situation (load type,
road conditions, etc.) and should adhere to the transport standards stated in Section 10.
(d) Collection
i.
Provided special domestic waste cannot be collected as part of the routine door-to-door
service, upon request from a household, and provided the service can be offered, the
service provider can provide for the collection of bulky waste.
ii.
Waste shall be removed in such a way as to cause minimal disruption to the routine of
the persons from whose premises the waste is being removed.
iii. Care must be taken to minimise the risk of damage to the property of the customer.
iv. The surrounding area must be left in a clean and tidy condition.
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v.
All health and safety considerations must be adhered to.
vi. All workers involved in collection must be adequately trained in the correct handling of
waste storage infrastructure to enable them to use it safely and with minimal damage to
the infrastructure.
8.1.4
Business/Industrial waste collection (small container and bulk collection)
The waste included in this collection service includes business waste, non-hazardous
industrial waste and building waste. The following minimum standards apply to the provision
of this service. The service provider must obtain the following information from its customer
to advise on the most appropriate service type:

what type and size of container is required,

the quantity of container needed for the waste generated,

space provision which is made available for the container/s and accessibility of collection
vehicles.
(a)
Storage Containers
The service provider shall ensure that the container provided meets the following minimum
standards:
i.
The container supplied for the service must be appropriate and adequate for the type of
waste required to be collected (i.e. skip container for building waste).
ii.
The container must be
a. Rigid and durable;
b. Corrosion resistant;
c. Rodent-proof and easily cleanable; and
d. Must be capable of containing the material deposited within.
e. Bulk containers must be fitted with a reflective strip.
iii. All storage containers for putrescible waste shall be watertight, of galvanized metal or
durable plastic construction and equipped with tight-fitting lids that restrict contact by
animals, insects and weather and designed for safe handling.
iv. Reusable waste containers which are emptied mechanically should be designed and
equipped to prevent spillage or leakage during on-site storage, collection, or transport.
The container should be easily cleanable and designed to allow easy access for
depositing the waste and removing it by gravity or by mechanical means.
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v.
Large containers shall have safety signage displayed on them and the name and
telephone number of the owner of the container must be displayed.
vi. A limit shall be placed on the number of smaller containers used by business/commercial
entities that form part of the routine door-to-door service. The limit should be relative to
the cost of providing the service and availability of alternative services.
(b)
Frequency of collection
i.
The frequency of collection shall be based upon the mutual agreement between the
customer and the service provider. However, this shall not be less than once per week so
as to prevent the accumulation of waste in quantities detrimental to public health or
safety. However, an exception can be made in cases where the frequency can be
determined by type and quantity, where a generator of small quantities of inert dry waste
which does not pose a health, safety and environmental threat can safely be provided
with a service not less than every two weeks.
ii.
Those business/commercial entities that form part of the routine door-to-door service
shall be provided with a weekly service.
iii. Where putrescible waste from hotels, restaurants and food shops are collected, frequency
of collection shall at least every two days. This is however dependent on whether the
containers storing the waste are locked overnight and are not accessible by the public and
if this waste does not pose a health nuisance. If these criteria are not met, waste must be
collected on a daily basis.
iv. For non-routine (ad hoc) collection, the service is to be provided within 24 hours of the
request, unless the waste is inert or does not pose a health and safety threat, the collection
timeframe can be agreed between the Service Provider and customer.
(c)
Collection service
i.
Where appropriate, the Service Provider can request that the National Building
Regulations be adhered to with regard to refuse collection.
ii.
Spillage during collection must be cleaned immediately.
iii. Reusable containers shall be placed in their original positions, once waste has been
collected.
iv. The containers shall be easily accessible to the collection vehicle in an area which can
safely accommodate the dimensions and the weight of the vehicle.
v.
Containers placed on pavements for building waste, must not have any part extending
beyond the curb into the road and shall only be placed there for a period not exceeding 2
weeks. A business container may be placed within a premise for a temporary period of
time not longer than one month when the placement is in relation to the construction or
repair of a building or structure, provided the businessl container is removed as soon as
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the construction or repair ceases. Containers can be temporarily placed in the roadway
where there is no adequate space on the premises or pavement. This should be done with
the consent of the local authority and the container must be highly visible and marked
with the contact details of the Service Provider.
vi. Noise generation during collection activities must be minimal.
vii. Service generally to be provided during normal working hours (07:00 to 18:00,
weekdays), or reduced hours over weekends.
viii. Waste loads collected must be signed off by the customer as proof of collection which
can be used as a type of manifest document.
ix. All workers involved in collection must be adequately trained in the correct handling of
waste storage infrastructure to enable them to use it safely and with minimal damage to
the infrastructure.
(d)
Separation at source collection
i.
The service provider shall ascertain from the customer what waste will be separated out
and the types, number, and locations of containers will be identified.
ii.
The service provider shall ensure that the container provided to the customer is fit for
purpose for the type of waste separated out.
iii. Containers must meet the specifications listed in section 8.1.2 (a) i
iv. Containers must be identifiable in terms of the recyclables stored in them.
v.
There must be easy access for unloading.
vi. There must be provision for locking-up the containers after hours to avoid
contamination.
vii. Environmental and health and safety considerations as mentioned above need to be
adhered to.
viii. The frequency of collection will be determined by the agreement between the service
provider and the customer, but it shall be at an adequate frequency, which takes into
account safe and healthy working conditions (possibility of fires, etc.).
(e)
Collection of condemned food
i.
The requirements of the National Health Act, Act 61 of 2003 and the relevant municipal
By-laws will apply in this regard.
ii.
Access to be restricted to authorised personnel only.
iii. The Service Provider must ensure that adequate notice is provided to the
disposal/treatment facility.
iv. The condemned food waste must be transported in a closed vehicle.
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v.
The Service Provider must supply a safe disposal certificate to the generator of the waste.
vi. The term “condemned food” does not apply to infectious or contagious waste. The
relevant national and provincial legislation dealing with these waste types need to be
referred to.
8.1.5
Special events
There are two types of special events; those that are pre-arranged and planned, and those that
aren’t. Pre-arranged events included concerts, exhibitions, trade events, political gatherings,
sports events (cycle races, marathons, etc.), protest marches, etc., that would take place within
the borders of Gauteng on public or government/municipal owned property. Non-arranged
events include unauthorised protest marches for example.
(a)
Pre-arranged Events
Adequate pre-notification of the event is required for the service provider to plan for the
event, which would have to be stipulated by the service provider. The service provider must
draw up a plan of action to service the event.
The Service Provider shall provide the necessary storage and transport infrastructure and
carry out the appropriate cleaning activity required by the event. The following will apply as a
minimum standard to the collection and cleaning of the event:
i.
Source separation will be instituted and aided by the supply of a 2 bin/container system
(waste station), one bin for recyclables and the other for wet waste/non-recyclables. All
bins must be clearly labelled, showing what waste types are acceptable and what types
are expressly prohibited.
ii.
Different colours to be used for the waste bin/container and recyclable waste
bin/container for easy identification.
iii. Bins with wheels such as 240l bins are more appropriate, as these are easy to move
around.
iv. Appropriate signage must be erected at each waste station indicating the separation of
waste.
v.
Bins/containers must be user friendly and large enough to collect an adequate amount of
waste to prevent waste from overflowing prior to collection.
vi. Bins/containers will include lids or will be covered to prevent rain from entering.
vii. The number of bins/containers provided must be adequate for the expected number of
people attending the said event.
viii. A dedicated container/s which includes a lid or cover must be provided for back-ofhouse areas where food and beverages are prepared.
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ix. The waste stations must be positioned near vendors, bathrooms, entrances and exits, and
other identified sites that typically generate waste material.
x.
All areas where waste is collected from shall be left in a clean and tidy state.
xi. All recyclable waste collected and transferred from the smaller bins/containers to the
larger skips or bulk containers, shall be kept separate from any other wastes.
xii. The area of the event shall be completely cleaned within 24 hours of completion of the
event, according to the Cleaning Standards contained in Section 9, and the contained
waste shall be removed within 48 hours.
xiii. For events lasting more than one day, cleaning of areas will take place every day, at a
predetermined time when the event is not in progress. Collected containerised waste will
be collected every day.
xiv. All cleaning staff should be identifiable and must have the required Personnel Protection
Equipment (PPE) and tools for the cleaning job required.
(b)
Non Pre-arranged Events
The Service Provider shall develop a plan of action for implementation of services for non
pre-arranged special events, as soon as possible after being notified of the event.
Once a non-pre-arranged event has been identified, where large crowds are expected, the
Service Provider needs to determine the type of event taking place and if in any way there is a
health and safety risk associated with the event which could impact the staff of the service
provider. The plan of action to manage the waste generated and to clean up the waste after the
event needs to be determined. The following minimum standards apply to this situation:
i.
The area of the event shall be completely cleaned within 3 days after completion of the
event, according to the Cleaning Standards contained in Section 9.
ii.
The Service Provider must try and recover costs for the clean up from the organisers of
the event.
8.2
Cleaning Standards
The cleaning standards consider both street cleaning as in litter picking, etc., as well as the
clearing of illegal dumping.
It is important that Service Provider’s cleaning route plans are developed to improve
efficiency of cleaning and to determine where areas not attaining cleanliness standards are
located. These routines must be reviewed at least every year or more frequently in the event
of areas changing so as to affect the rate at which they require to be cleaned. The Photo
Graphic Standard (Appendix 7) will be used as the standard measure of cleanliness. Appendix
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8 includes references to implementation of the United Kingdom litter and refuse cleaning
standards and guidelines.
8.2.1
Cleaning
Cleaning of urban streets and parkways, etc. is done by means of a number of methods, this
can include:

Litter picking;

Street sweeping;

Removal of leaves;

Removal of animal kills and discarded carcasses;

Removal of illegal dumping; and

Lane or pavement flushing/washing.
As a minimum and to prevent health and nuisance issues arising, litter picking and street
sweeping has to be conducted by the Service Provider within their cleaning function.
Town/City centres, high use areas, “public roads”, “public places”, private land (associated
with complaints received regarding littering), require regular cleaning by the Service
Provider. The following standards apply to cleaning activities.
The Service Provider must ensure that all of the cleaning staff understand the Photo Graphic
Standard and will also be able to determine the levels of cleanliness in an area. Information on
the Photo Graphic Standard must be made available to the workers.
(a)
Litter containers
The following minimum standard specifications are required for all litter containers used:
i.
Litter containers must be easily cleanable;
ii.
All containers shall comply with the relevant SANS specifications (SANS 493:1973 Steel refuse bins; SANS 1310:1980 - Refuse bins of polymeric materials; SANS
1494:1989 - Mobile refuse bins).;
iii. If plastic bins are used the plastic must have a high fire retardant value;
iv. Bins should have holes in the base so that they cannot be used as liquid containers; and
v.
The opening at the container top should be appropriate (fit for use) for the waste
generated, within areas defined.
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(b)
High use areas (including town and city centres)
High use areas can be defined as areas where the public congregate for periods of time or
areas where there is a large number of people present or in transit at any given time and
include areas such as taxi ranks, bus terminals, railway stations, street side malls, food
vendors, etc. These areas are therefore prone to the generation of high volumes of waste over
short periods of time. These areas require intensive and continual management of the waste
generated and collected. In addition, Town/City centres have a huge influx of commuters on a
daily basis, resulting in high generation of wastes. As a result, the following minimum
standards to cleaning applies:
The following applies to service providers regarding the collection and cleaning of these
areas:
i.
The Service Provider shall supply and install sufficient containers, appropriately sized, in
public places to prevent the container from overflowing between service intervals.
ii.
Town/City centres must be cleaned of litter dependent on pedestrian frequency and
density and the rate at which litter accumulates and containers become filled.
iii. Litter containers must be cleared out regularly so as to prevent waste from flowing out of
the container.
iv. The Photo Graphic Standard (Appendix 7) will be used to measure the extent of litter
within an area and to what extent the level of cleanliness is being achieved.
v.
If the cleanliness standard should fall to Level 3 or higher during the period from 08:00
am to 06:00 pm it shall be restored to Level 1 by the following day.
vi. If required by the service provider and depending on the amounts of waste generated,
larger containers such as skips could be used to service areas where hawkers are located.
These large containers would have to be removed based on the frequency at which they
are filled provided the health of the surrounding community is not compromised.
vii. The size and siting of litter bins has to be decided on based on local experience and
observations recorded by officials. In light of this the following shall apply:
a. Containers shall be located within adequate walking distance from one another;
b. The size of the containers should be determined based on waste volumes generated
and the rate at which containers are filled relative to the frequency of collection; and
c. The health of pedestrians should not be compromised.
viii. The needs of the disabled and visually handicapped people should be consider when
placing containers.
ix. In addition, records shall be maintained of all street and public containers, in terms of
size, type, location, serviceability, replacement frequency, utilisation, etc.
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x.
Notices shall be placed in these high use areas specifying that littering is prohibited and
provision has been made for litter disposal.
xi. All footpaths within the designated Town/City centre areas to be cleaned daily. This shall
include shop entrance ways and other privately owned areas in front of shops where
public access extends up to doorways, etc.
xii. In areas that are inaccessible due to physical obstructions such as parked vehicles,
hawker stalls, other activities etc., the Service Provider shall make every effort to clean
these areas. This would include cleaning during off peak periods but always ensuring that
the areas are properly cleaned at least once during the 24 hour period on the days of the
week on which the particular areas experience heavy traffic and are therefore required to
be serviced.
(c)
Other areas requiring regular cleaning
These areas include urban streets, strategic entrance roads, important public landmarks, parks,
walkways and public open spaces.
i.
The Service Provider shall supply and install sufficient containers, appropriately sized, in
public places to prevent the container from overflowing between service intervals.
ii.
The Service Provider needs to identify these areas, document these areas and develop a
waste cleaning plan for these areas, based on their rate of use, strategic importance and
level of cleanliness deterioration and expected cleaning frequency. Appendix 9 provides
a template table which can be used for this purpose.
iii. No area shall have a cleanliness Level of 3 or higher. The area would need to be cleaned
within 24 hours of this being identified.
iv. High density, low income areas (informal settlements)
a. Street sweeping and clearing of litter should be the responsibility of each service
provider (primary collector) within his/her designated area.
b. Service providers (Primary collectors) must have the necessary equipment for street
sweeping and litter picking. This would include brooms, shovels and suitable tools
for picking up small items of litter.
(d)
Leaf Removal
Leaf removal is required, especially in the autumn months to prevent the accumulation and
blockage of water drainage systems. The following standards therefore apply:
i.
Service providers will determine highly treed areas where leaf removal will be required;
ii.
At the start of autumn leaves are to be removed prior to them accumulating to a depth of
200mm;
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iii. Particular attention must be given to gutters and entrances, and any other areas where
leaves may accumulate and restrict or prevent drainage;
iv. During the process of leaf removal, all other waste must also be removed, to render the
area visibly clean; and
v.
Collected leaves must be taken to a composting plant on the same day, provided
composting facilities are available, and the waste is not contaminated to a degree that
makes composting undesirable or uneconomical.
(e)
Lane flushing
This activity is generally associated with the larger city centres where homeless people find
shelter within the city streets and as a result utilise the lanes for urination and defecation. Taxi
ranks are also sometimes prone to these practices. The following standards apply to this
activity:
i.
Once litter has been cleared from these areas, the service provider shall flush these areas
with water and a disinfectant and deodorising chemical which is biodegradable (such as
chloride of lime) to destroy any disease harbouring bacteria.
ii.
The disinfecting and deodorising chemicals to be used for flushing shall be approved by
the relevant authority responsible for the local water catchment area management.
iii. Lane flushing will be done on a daily basis, prior to the early morning rush hour.
iv. Excess water which does not drain away, must be cleared away.
(f)
Removal of animal kills
i.
The service provider shall remove dead animals/birds from public roads within one
working day of being reported to them.
ii.
Suitable containers such as plastic bags shall be used for the containment of the dead
animal.
(g)
Mechanical Sweeping
Service Providers utilising mechanical sweepers shall abide by the following minimum
standards specific to this activity:
i.
Areas where mechanical sweepers are to be utilised need to be identified and recorded
and should be available at the Service Provider’s premises.
ii.
During sweeping operations allowances must be made to accommodate certain
conditions such as rush hour traffic.
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iii. If the area required to be swept is obstructed by parked vehicles, or overhanging trees
etc., it is the Service Provider’s responsibility to make arrangements as necessary for the
effective cleaning of the area by manual sweeping or other means.
iv. Parked cars shall not be seen as a legitimate restriction to cleaning operations but shall be
worked around.
v.
Where roads are constantly obstructed by parked cars, manual sweeping will have to
replace the mechanical operation.
vi. Mechanical sweepers shall adhere to the requirements of the National Road Traffic Act,
and the rules of the road shall apply.
vii. Mechanical sweepers must be regularly maintained to ensure that oil spillages and the
like do not occur.
viii. The mechanical sweepers should not generate excessive dust during their operation.
ix. Appropriate filter systems should be incorporated into the mechanical sweeper.
x.
(h)
The mechanical sweeper should not pose any excessive noise nuisance.
Cleaning Frequency
i.
Service providers are expected to set their cleansing schedules so that they meet the duty
to keep their relevant identified area clear of litter.
ii.
In some areas, these standards can be effectively maintained during daylight hours.
However, in others longer hours of management are required, for example, in town and
city centres. If the standard in high intensity areas should fall to an unacceptable level
during the evening, it should be restored to level 1 by the following day. This applies to
weekdays, weekends and holidays.
iii. Response times will be subject to overriding requirements, especially in relation to health
and safety and traffic management.
iv. Areas which have been identified, through complaints; identification by residents,
service providers, regulatory officials, etc., as having a cleanliness level of 3 or above
should be cleaned within 24 hours.
(j)
Cleaning service
The following minimum standards will apply when cleaning an area:
iv. All litter, glass, paper, plastic, metal, cigarette ends, loose leaves, debris, filth,
excrement, dead animals, and any material foreign to that area with its particular surface
use, and not placed there for a particular purpose, must be removed, irrespective of the
quantity. This also includes illegal dumping as well as the emptying of all public litter
containers.
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v.
Depending on the surface which requires cleaning the fit for purpose tool i.e. brooms,
rakes or litter-picking equipment needs to be utilised by the workers employed by the
service provider.
vi. All waste collected during cleaning operations must be removed from the cleaned areas
and disposed of on the same day of the cleaning operation.
vii. The Photo Graphic Standard will be used as the measurement standard for cleanliness of
an area.
a. This is a tool to measure the level of cleanliness in an area
b. Training of staff undertaking collection and cleaning activities on how this standard
works as well as how to identify the various levels of cleanliness has to be
undertaken
c. Photo Graphic standards must be made available to the community and rate payer,
so they can monitor the level of cleanliness if their respective areas.
viii. Ensuring the maximum cleanliness of an area must become part of the daily activity of
the Service Provider as a number of activities such as illegal dumping removal and
cleaning (litter picking and sweeping) are dependent on this standard to measure
compliance with these Gauteng standards.
ix. The minimum cleaning standard shall never fall below Level 3 (according to the Photo
Graphic Index).
(j)
i.
Traffic Safety
The Service Provider shall ensure that operations are conducted in a safe manner,
including the provision of advance warning signs, traffic cones or other safety equipment
as necessary. When carrying out any cleaning activity the Service Provider shall take all
reasonably practicable steps to minimise inconvenience to traffic and to ensure the safety
of the workers, pedestrians and other road users.
8.2.2
Illegal dumping
Illegal dumping is an activity which cannot necessarily be eradicated by instituting certain
collection actions, however, by instituting intensive illegal dumping collection management
standards, it is hoped that this activity will be minimised. The service providers must identify
the underlying issues which result in the occurrence of illegal dumping and address them as
part of the standards or by other means (e.g. encourage the planting of vegetable gardens in
open areas in informal and low income areas). The following minimum standards apply to
the identification and collection of illegal dumping:
(a)
Complaints registered for illegal dumping should be seen as a priority complaint.
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(b)
Illegal dumping hot spots must be identified and routinely monitored to prevent the
accumulation of waste.
(c)
In the event of regular illegal dumping occurring in any given area, this should be
reported to Law-Enforcement for them to take preventative action.
(d)
Once illegal dumping has been reported as a complaint or identified by the Service
Provider during collection routes, etc., the Service Provider must remove the waste
which has been illegally dumped within 72 hours. Illegal dumping or littering which
occurs on private land must be addressed through Section 32 and 33 of the Waste Act.
(e)
The area where illegal dumping is removed must be left clean and tidy and free of all
litter.
(f)
All attempts should be made to identify where the waste has originated from, and
follow up action must be conducted.
(g)
Notices must be erected at known hot spots for illegal dumping, stating the fines that
can be imposed by the local authority in the area.
(h)
If illegal dumping is resulting because of the lack of skips/containers at informal
settlements or because of the infrequent removal of the waste, this situation needs to be
prioritised and standards related to collection of waste from these areas must be
adhered to. This must be used as a measurement in respect of the collection service
provided to those areas.
8.3
Transport
Any Service Provider who transports waste, needs to adhere to the stipulations within the
National Road Traffic Act No. 93 of 1996 and any other appropriate road transport legislation
currently in place. This Act pertains to the fact that all vehicles should be in a fully
roadworthy condition and should have an up-to-date license registration. In addition, the
driver of the vehicle must be fully licensed and permitted as a minimum standard. An added
benefit would be advanced training in driving techniques. In addition to the Act and the
related legislation, a number of minimum standards specific to waste collection transportation
are listed below:
8.3.1
Vehicles transporting waste must be appropriate for the type of waste transported and
should be of adequate size and construction for the waste type.
8.3.2
Vehicles should not be overloaded and should only be loaded to an acceptable height.
8.3.3
The Service Provider’s name and telephone number shall be printed or painted in
legible letters on the vehicle
8.3.4
All vehicles and equipment shall be maintained at all times in a manner to prevent
unnecessary noise, oil leakages, etc. during its operation
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8.3.5
Waste collection vehicles shall be fitted with safety devices, including, but not limited
to, the following:
(a)
Flashing warning lights and chevrons, and shall have headlights switched on during
waste collection operations;
(b)
Easily accessible first aid equipment and fire extinguisher; and
(c)
Audible reverse warning device.
8.3.6 Waste transported must be covered with adequate covers such as tarpaulins or netting,
or sealed to prevent the waste from falling off or blowing off vehicles whilst in transit.
If nets are to be used, the aperture size must be smaller than the waste particle size to
prevent the waste escaping through the net, and shall be no greater than 150mm x
150mm. The net or cover must be properly fastened to the vehicle or waste container.
8.3.7 Precautions shall be taken to prevent spillage or leakage during transportation from all
vehicles used to collect and/or transport municipal solid wastes that produce leachate.
8.3.8 Any waste spillage that occur during the collection and transport of waste, must be
cleaned up immediately. No transportation may continue should waste be observed to
be falling out of the transportation vehicle, but driver must stop and secure waste to
prevent waste spillage.
8.3.9 Vehicles used for collection and transportation of waste shall be cleaned frequently to
prevent nuisances arising such as odour or insect breeding.
8.3.10 Transport vehicles such as trolleys/carts, etc. used for collection of waste from
informal areas or collection of recyclables in urban areas must be designed and
constructed to take account of the loads to be carried, and the conditions of the roads
and tracks to be traversed.
8.3.11 All waste collectors and transporters must be registered with their local authority.
8.4
Health and Safety
Manual methods of collection often result in waste workers coming into direct contact with
wastes that sometimes contain faecal matter (human and animal), glass and infected medical
wastes, etc. In addition, injuries can occur during the actual carrying and lifting of containers.
Waste accumulation can also lead to greater exposure to insects and vermin, scavenging by
animals, and increased health risks to workers. Health and safety within the working
environment is therefore important.
The provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act No. 85 of 1993 and its regulations
are applicable to all waste collection activities and shall be continually complied with by all
staff dealing with waste collection and cleaning activities. Non-compliance to the Act and
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minimum standards must be dealt with speedily and appropriately as is indicated in the Act.
The following minimum standards related to waste collection and cleaning activities must be
adhered to:
8.4.1
All staff must have fit for purpose health and safety training which must be
documented;
8.4.2
All staff must be adequately trained as regards to working in hazardous conditions
and within traffic situations;
8.4.3
All waste collection personnel should receive instructions and training in safe
container and waste handling techniques, and in the proper operation of collection
equipment;
8.4.4
Each Service Provider must develop and have available a safe working plan;
8.4.5
All staff directly related to the collection and cleaning operation must have an annual
medical examination;
8.4.6
All casual staff employed for collection or cleaning must undergo a health and safety
induction and must be provided with the necessary Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE);
8.4.7
As a minimum the following PPE should be supplied to each permanent worker
dealing with collection, cleaning or transport of waste:
(a)
Overall with a reflective stripe or reflective jacket;
(b)
Appropriate safety shoes;
(c)
Gloves;
(d)
Hat or cap; and
(e)
Dust mask.
8.4.8 Workers shall not be allowed to work unless they are wearing the fit for purpose PPE
for the specific job.
8.4.9 The Service Provider must provide the workers with adequate means to disinfect
themselves while away from the depot, i.e. alcohol impregnated wipes for hands and
face.
8.4.10 Workers must be provided with adequate access to clean drinking water.
8.4.11 Occurrences of health and safety incidents related to collection and cleaning activities
must be documented. Repeated incidents of a particular nature need to be actively
investigated and changes made where appropriate.
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8.4.12 The Service Provider must ensure that the waste collection teams have a first aid box
on each collection vehicle and that at least one of the crew has been for first aid
training, with certification up-to-date.
8.4.13 Telephone numbers of the Emergency Services and the police must be available to
the crew.
8.5
Recording of complaints
The purpose of recording complaints or having a complaints system in place is to:

ensure good customer service

determine to what extent, adequacy and quality of the required service is being
implemented,

determine if standards indicated here have been implemented,

identify uncontrolled activities such as illegal dumping,

determine if there is an improvement in service.
In line with this the following minimum standards shall be complied with:
8.5.1
Every Service Provider shall maintain a telephone service for the purposes of
responding to inquiries and for the receipt of complaints.
8.5.2
The Service Provider must record complaints in a formal manner.
8.5.3
A complaints line and recording system must be established for receiving and
recording of complaints.
8.5.4
The complaints telephone number must be made known to the public be it through
advertising, inclusion into the rates account, by pamphlets, etc. and shall be listed in
the local telephone directory.
8.5.5
The complaints telephone service shall be provided during working hours.
8.5.6
All complaints received must be recorded, and as a minimum, the complaint must be
addressed within 72 hours of obtaining the complaint. If a delay in the action will
exceed 72 hours, the complainant must be informed of the delay and the required
actions being put in place to resolve the problem. Except in instances where
complaints have been lodged regarding littering and a cleanliness level of 3 or more
has been indicated, the area must be cleaned to a level 1 within 24 hours of the
complaint being received.
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8.5.7
A monthly report of complaints must be compiled by category of complaint with
resultant resolutions. The time period taken to resolve each complaint must be
indicated. In addition to this information, the report must detail what measures have
been taken to minimise the recurrence of the complaints.
8.5.8
The Service Provider will address the following actions/questions which must
accompany each complaint:
(a)
What was the cause of the complaint?
(b)
What can be done to reduce the chances of a recurrence of the problem?
(c)
If interaction with the law enforcement office is required to ensure prosecution where
possible.
9
HOME COMPOSTING
Although the provision for separation of organic waste has not yet been included in the
standards, local authorities need to look at encouraging their residents to develop home
composting or vermiculture (worm farming) projects as a means of reducing the quantity of
organic waste disposed to landfill. Methods used to promote home compost programs include:

Distribution of practical information on how to set up a home composting or vermiculture
system and cope with problems that may arise;

Promotion and direct sale of compost bins and/or worm farms to residents;

Provision of contact details for private operators that sell compost bins or worm farms;

Demonstrations of composting, worm farming and market gardening at shows or
dedicated sites; and/or

Provision of compost bins and worm farms to interested schools.
In informal and low income areas, areas can be identified where vegetable gardens can be
established. This also prevents communities from using these areas as dumping grounds.
Vegetable wastes can be composted for use in these vegetable gardens.
10
IMPLEMENTATION
10.1
Critical risks to implementation
Because these standards set benchmarks related to collection and cleaning service delivery,
there is a real possibility that not all the standards will be met at the onset or immediately after
publication of these waste standards. This could then result in varied or phased
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implementation of the standards by various Service Providers. The critical risks to
implementation considered to be considered are the following:
10.1.1
Human resource capacity
Many municipalities, particularly some of the smaller local municipalities have limited human
resource capacity and are currently not even meeting their required service delivery mandate
where many households are not receiving a waste collection service. To introduce standards
which would impose a duty on the local municipalities to improve on their current waste
collection and cleaning service could be risky as implementation of the standards might not be
guaranteed. This scenario could possibly be true for a number of smaller SMMEs,
entrepreneurs and one man contractors, who might not have the capability to comply with the
given standards. What would be required, is a phased approach to the introduction and
implementation of the standards, which would allow for the gradual expansion of the required
capacity needed to implement the standards. However, it must be noted that many of the
standards do not require the need for additional capacity for implementation. Introduction of
the standards will be part of the current waste collection and cleaning practices. The service
providers which would be mostly affected by the standards will have to analyse the standards
and determine where additional capacity might be required and how this could affect their
business. Cognisance should be taken of utilising subcontractors / partnerships within certain
aspects of the standards such as collection of waste for separation at source and collection of
waste from informal settlements.
Linked to the implementation of standards is the awareness and training that need to be
provided by the service providers to their staff. This could also determine to what extent
additional staff might be required.
10.1.2
Financial capacity and implications
The financial implications for implementing the standards have not yet been determined.
However, what is clear is that the smaller local municipalities have limited budgets for waste
management. Long-term cost savings, based on changes made in the short-term, are often
difficult to put into perspective given the short-term budget demands. Although a number of
the standards will not require additional finances, some of them will, and it cannot be
expected that only those which do not require additional budget are implemented in the shortterm. Municipalities therefore need to consider a number of cost savings which will be
achieved once the standards have been implemented. These include:

Long term savings in the cost to remove illegal dumping once quantities start decreasing.
The cost to remove illegally dumped waste is far higher than for routine collected waste,
generally more than double.

Less utilisation of landfill airspace, when separation at source is implemented. The unit
capital cost of a new permitted landfill is approximately R8.00 to R10.00 per tonne. The
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operational cost is between R20.00 and R30.00 per tonne. Therefore the total cost of
waste disposal at a permitted landfill is between R28.00 and R40.00 per tonne.

Transporting waste long distances, because of landfill closures would increase transport
costs. Long distance transportation costs vary between R2.50 and R4.50 per tonne per km.
As an example, if a new regional landfill is established 40km further away from the waste
generation areas, the additional transportation costs could be as much as R180.00 per
tonne. This cost would be additional to the high cost of routine waste collection.

Reducing the need for the establishment of a new landfill when waste is diverted from
landfill, which will have huge cost savings, in terms of development costs (R8.00 to
R10.00 per tonne). In addition, distances travelled to reach these new landfills, seem to
be further and further away from waste generation nodes, which could result in extensive
transport costs (R2.50 to R4.50 per tonne per km).

Collection vehicle routes should be designed to minimise driving distances and delays.
The cost of routine collected waste is between R450.00 and R650.00 per tonne.

For municipalities, utilising the service of private contractors for collection of waste from
specific areas, is often more cost effective than providing the service in-house. Typically
waste collection using the private sectors costs between R15.00 and R25.00 per service
point per month, whereas the municipality costs for the same service ranges from R40.00
to R55.00 per service point per month.

Municipalities could look at partnering up with the private sector to collect the containers
with recyclables, once separation at source is introduced. This would reduce the amount
of waste to be collected, and hence reduce the overall cost of the waste collection service.
In addition a number of financial options such as subsidies, funding (i.e. Municipal
Infrastructure Grant funding), etc. will assist the municipalities in making their budgets go
further. These include:

Better utilising systems such as the indigent policy and free basic service grant which
would subsidise numerous households currently not paying for a service.

Applying for MIG funding which could assist with capital investments and the like.
Costing / Tariff setting
Although waste management is regarded as a basic service, at municipal level, it is generally
placed well below the other basic services such water supply, housing, etc. and as a result
does not get allocated sufficient budget. This needs to change. In addition, municipal income
generation is extremely poor, which often results in budget deficits.
The Waste Tariff Strategy (WTS) developed by DEAT, now called DEA, is a functional tool
which could assist municipalities with regard to ensuring adequate funding for meeting
standards set out by the Gauteng Province. The Tariff Models presented within the Tariff
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Strategy will be able to assist in the development of adequate tariffs based on implementation
of the required standards. The WTS indicates different tariff scenarios and how tariffs are
applied within different municipal circumstances. A number of documents have been
developed in support of the WTS which includes the WTS document, the guideline document,
the user-friendly manual and the tariff model. The cost of additional requirements needed to
fulfil the standards will have to be borne by the rate payer and adjusted costing within the
tariff models would allow for this.
10.1.3
Lack of education and awareness
Education and awareness of the Service Providers, their staff as well as the public is required
to ensure successful implementation of the standards. Without an understanding of how waste
collection and cleaning has to be implemented according to the standards by the service
providers, will place a huge risk on successful implementation of the standards. Labour
Unions must be brought on board, so that they understand the reasons for implementation of
the standards and where the implementation can affect work carried out by the service
providers’ staff. In addition, those obtaining the service, the public as well as commerce and
industry, need to know what is required of them and the level of service that they can look
forward to. Because of the cost of education and awareness programmes, there is a potential
risk that this will not be undertaken, which is seen as a vital tool to implementing the
standards. Success of the separation at source programmes is totally reliant on the
participation of residents and business/industrial entities and the role of the local government
in facilitating and providing enabling mechanisms such as appropriate by-laws, etc. and this
requires extensive and continual education and awareness communication.
10.1.4
Population and economic growth
Uncontrolled population as well as economic growth can place a huge burden on service
providers in that additional financial, human resource and infrastructure might be required to
keep up with the demand of the provision of an equitable, uniform, environmentally sound
waste service. This is especially true if allocated budgets and income generated do not
increase accordingly. As a result the implementation of standards might be compromised,
given the division of resources, budget, etc.
10.1.5
Economic factors
Economic factors which cannot be controlled at a local level can have a marked effect on the
implementation of certain of the standards required. This is particularly true in the case of
separation at source for recycling as well as the costs in obtaining parts for machinery and
vehicles not made locally. The decreased need in the market for certain recyclable
commodities previously had a huge negative impact on the recycling industry and reduced the
price of these commodities substantially. Recycling markets need to be investigated at a
national level as this would impact on the whole of South Africa and locally new avenues for
use of recyclable materials should be considered, especially advancement of home industries.
Residents will become despondent if they separate out their waste, only to discover that their
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recyclable wastes are ending up in the landfill. This will only discourage their participation
and place implementation in jeopardy.
Another driver related to the collection of recyclables is the productivity potential of that
recyclable. To what extent are recyclables being used to produce other items? What is the
relationship between what can be expected to be recycled and the processing capability
provided by industry? It will be no use if PVC plastics are required to be separated out and
recycled if there is no processing industry or a market for the processed item.
In addition, Service Providers are being paid for the amount of general waste they collect.
Alternative payment methods would therefore have to be considered especially if separation
and waste reduction is to be encouraged.
Despite the fact that the standards will eventually be promulgated as provincial regulations,
the issue of providing incentives to the municipalities in particular to implement the standards
and actually go beyond the standards needs to be taken into consideration. GDARD would
like to institute a recognition programme for municipalities who go beyond the minimum
standard.
10.1.6
Legislative and governmental processes
Legislative and governmental processes can often halt or delay progress of a programme or
project. A case in point is the long and drawn out Municipal Systems Act Section 78 process
which is used to determine if external delivery mechanisms can be used by a municipality or
not. This process can significantly delay the appointment of a contractor to provide a service
to informal settlements. This will have an impact on the rate of the implementation of the
standards. In addition, the request for MIG funding can be a tedious process, which might or
might not result in the allocation of funding for capital projects.
The registration of indigents, which will entitle the municipality to subsidies for free basic
services, is a continuous process, which relies on the indigent person to register on a yearly
basis. The municipalities need to ensure that this is an easy, simple process, with no costs
incurred by the indigent person.
In addition, the lack of enforcement of by-laws, outdated by-laws as well as limited
prosecutions by the National Prosecuting Authority which are often stalled by red tape, lack
of evidence, etc. can negatively influence the implementation of the standards.
10.1.7
Reporting
Service Providers will have to report to the authorities regarding the implementation of the
standards. The risk associated with this, is that reporting might not be accurate or reporting
might not be undertaken by the Service Provider. This will not allow GDARD to determine
the actual success of implementation of the standards, which is crucial to them as they have
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the legislative mandate to ensure that services are provided at the required standard that they
stipulate.
10.2
Implementation plan (explanation of the phased approach)
It is intended that the GWCS will be implemented over a period of time. This is especially
true for new services namely separation at source for the purpose of recycling. Because of the
variety of pilot projects currently underway in South Africa, for which successes are minimal
and have not fully been proven, economic factors and the unique set of circumstances
defining the socio-economic elements in Gauteng, pilot studies will have to be investigated to
research source separation. The initial focus will be on the higher income residential areas
where greater quantities of recyclables are being generated. Associated with this, would be
the analysis of a separation at source pricing model which would indicate the successes and
failures of this system. This must be all encompassing and should consider long term cost
savings in landfill airspace among other cost savings.
The GWCS document will then be revisited considering the findings of the pilot study. Once
standards have been implemented and have proven to be practical, useful, and effective, they
will be promulgated as provincial regulations.
10.3
Sustainability
There are a number of factors and variables which could positively or negatively affect the
implementation of the standards.
These will ultimately determine whether the
implementation of the Standards will be sustainable or not. The following list has to be taken
into account and addressed with regard to the various pilot studies that will be undertaken to
determine the feasibility of certain of the standards as well as the standards as a whole. These
sustainability issues are as follows:

Political support is vital

Adequate management systems in place (such as the ISO 14001 series)

Appropriate (fit for purpose) technology

Public information and transparency

Adequate cost recovery

Subsidisation of free basic services

Household affordability, or willingness to pay

Cooperation from communities

Adequate levels of supervision and monitoring

By-laws conflicting with Provincial standards
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
Buy-in from municipalities

Practicability and applicability

Fit for purpose training and capacity building for all parties involved in the provision of
waste collection services is necessary to ensure sustainability of the service, which needs
to be supported by appropriate enabling by-laws.

Delays in implementing services as a result of legislative processes. This pertains
specifically to implementing Section 78 of the Municipal Systems Act with regard to
external service delivery.
11
PERFORMANCE & MONITORING
Monitoring of the GWCS is necessary to determine to what extent Service Providers are
implementing the standards, where problem areas are with regard to implementation,
successes and failures of the standards and where changes and improvements can be made to
the standards to make them more applicable, practical and ultimately implementable. This is
especially true in light of the fact that these standards will become Regulation in the province.
An effective monitoring programme is essential to provide information against which the
implementation of the standards can be measured as well as the performance of Service
Providers in the implementation of the standards. Monitoring of specific outputs will
determine to what extent standards are being met. The objectives of monitoring are to:

Determine which of the standards and by whom they are implemented and how the
standards can be improved.

Obtain current information against which the standards’ implementation is measured.

Improve the level of service provided.

Ensure that progress on the implementation of the GWCS is on track and that adjustments
and refinements can be made where required.

Fulfil the monitoring requirements as may be imposed in terms of legislation.
According to the Municipal Systems Act, Chapter 6, section 46, municipalities should submit
an annual report to their respective Councils, the reason being to ensure that nonperformances and misadministration at local municipal level is identified and addressed. The
management systems of the municipalities are therefore performance outcome based. This would
require that key performance indicators are developed and performance targets set. This type of
performance measurement is also relevant to the Service Providers in the private sector.
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11.1
Key Performance Indicators
Some key performance indicators for monitoring the implementation of the standards have
been listed below, however, additions or deletions can be made based on information obtained
during implementation and what indicators give the best results and information required.

Percentage of the population receiving  Number of private sector waste
a waste collection service
companies registered with the local
 Improvement on level of service given
authorities
per population
 Number of people registered as
 Percentage of the population receiving
indigent (related to expected numbers)
a door-to-door service.
 Percentage of employees (involved in
 Number of complaints related to
collection and cleaning activities) that
collection and cleaning activities.
have been trained on the standards.
 The
percentage
of
complaints  Number of health and safety incidents
addressed with 72 hours.
reported.
 Percentage of waste illegally dumped  Number of educational programmes
which is collected related to all waste
successfully implemented.
collected.
 Development of Areas Cleaning Plan
 Percentage area that conforms to the  Development of Worker Safety Plan
Photo Graphic Standard 3, 90% of the
time.
 Quantity of waste disposed of at For waste going to landfill / For waste
landfills
separated out for recycling
 Quantities of waste diverted from  R/Service Point/month
landfill and the airspace saving as a  R/Tonne of waste collected
result of waste diversion
 R/m of street cleaned or swept
 Number
of
recycling
companies  R/worker/month
partaking in waste separation activities.
 R/vehicle/month
 The number of residences (communities)  kg/Service Point collected
participating in the recycling program.
 Number of Service points serviced /
 The number of business/commercial
Vehicle
customers participating in the recycling  T/worker per month
program.
 T/day (general waste collected)
 Number of jobs created as a result of
waste recycling initiatives.
Those KPI’s which have been highlighted with a bold font, can be readily implemented
by Service Providers
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11.2
Monitoring responsibilities and monitoring periods
11.2.1 Responsibilities
Responsibility for monitoring can be defined based on legal mandatory responsibility,
operational responsibility as well as the level of environmental consciousness.

In terms of current or impending legislation provincial government is responsible for
monitoring waste service delivery within its jurisdiction.

With monitoring being an operational issue, municipalities and businesses themselves are
currently responsible for monitoring themselves.

The local community can play an invaluable role in monitoring, as they are always
exposed to the operational aspects of waste management.
11.2.2
Monitoring requirements and periods
GDARD are considering the principle of self-monitoring of the standards by the different
Service Providers, especially as many of the standards are based on operational aspects.
However, information regarding key outputs to measure certain aspects of the standards will
be required on a yearly basis. Monitoring information will have to be supplied by the
Service Providers to the Provincial Government. It is the intention to use the current Waste
Information System in which the Service Providers will have to input details related to the
performance indicators described above. It might be required that this information,
particularly from the local authorities, would have to be included in the agreed information
submitted to the Province for Integrated Waste Management Planning. Service Providers shall
submit information annually on the performance indicators listed above.
The establishment of Environmental Management Inspectors could assist in monitoring
certain operational aspects related to the standards for both the local authorities and the
private sector. Findings would then be provided to the Province.
12
EVALUATION AND REVIEW
The reason for reviewing the standards and their implementation on a continual basis is to
ensure its practicality, suitability and usability. These evaluations may reveal additional or
different priority areas that should be addressed within the standards or as complementary
tools to implement the standards.
A full review of the standards will take place, once the pilot studies have been completed and
enough monitoring data on the implementation has been received. The standards will be
reviewed every 2 years, for the first 4 years and small changes made during the course of the
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implementation period. The necessary legislative process will be followed to have the
standards adopted in law in the Gauteng Province.
13
THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADDITIONAL WASTE MANAGEMENT
STANDARDS FOR GAUTENG
The GDARD has also of developed standards for certain activities, processes, facilities, etc.
which cannot be monitored by them on a regular basis. This will ensure that these activities,
processes, facilities, etc. will have a uniform and consistent operational system, which is
environmentally, socially and economically sound. The following activities, processes,
facilities, etc. related to general waste which will be considered by GDARD have been listed
below:

Garden sites

Transfer stations

Buy-back centres

Materials Recovery Facilities (MRF)

Treatment facilities (e.g. composting)
Although many of these facilities and processes require a Waste Management Licence to
operate, operational aspects might not necessarily be detailed within these permits/licences.
The standards which will be developed for these facilities will be directly and indirectly
linked to the GWCS. For example, the manner in which waste is separated at source can
influence how waste is handled and processed in a MRF.
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Glencairn Building, 73 Market Street, Johannesburg
P O Box 8769, Johannesburg, 2000
Telephone: (011) 355-1900
Fax: (011) 355-1000
Email: gdard@gauteng.gov.za
Website : www.gdard.gpg.gov.za
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