Integrated Waste Management Plan Overview

Study Notes

An IWMP is a comprehensive plan for managing waste effectively across all sectors in South Africa
The aim is to reduce waste generation, promote recycling, and ensure safe disposal methods
IWMPs are critical tools used by various stakeholders, including municipalities, provincial and national governments, the private sector, NGOs, EHPs, and the public

An IWMP aims to reduce waste generation
An IWMP promotes the waste hierarchy: reduce, reuse, recycle, recovery, and disposal
An IWMP ensures safe disposal
An IWMP improves recycling rates
An IWMP aims to enhance public awareness

An IWMP includes waste characterization and assessment - analyzing the type and quantity of waste generated in a given area
An IWMP evaluates existing waste management systems - Including collection, transportation, recycling, treatment, and disposal practices

The National Environmental Management: Waste Act (NEM), 2008: provides the framework for waste management by promoting waste minimization, recycling, and safe disposal
The National Waste Management Strategy (NWMS) outlines national goals for waste management and guides the development of IWMPs
The Municipal Systems Act mandates municipalities to prepare and implement IWMPs

The National Government provides overall policy direction, regulatory frameworks, and support
Provincial Governments oversee the development and implementation of IWMPs at the local level
Municipalities develop and implement local IWMPs, manage waste collection and disposal services, and engage with local communities
The private sector plays a role through waste management companies, recyclers, and other businesses
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) contribute to public education, advocacy, and community-based waste management initiatives

The IWMP process involves establishing a situation analysis, setting the desired end state, identifying, evaluating, and selecting alternative methods, implementing the IWMP, and evaluating and reviewing the plan

The objective of a situation analysis is to analyze all aspects of waste management within a municipality's jurisdiction
The analysis includes the current status of delivery of waste services
It includes the number of residents in the area
It includes the demographic and socio-economic composition of the area
It also includes the type of waste being generated, recycled, recovered, and disposed of

Identifying priorities and goals a municipality wishes to attain regarding waste management
Strategic goals for the IWMP should be developed using historical and present waste management information
These goals should address gaps and the needs of the community and align with the Waste Act

Municipalities must identify different approaches to achieving their desired end state
Municipalities must also evaluate the costs and benefits of each approach

Municipalities must develop an implementation plan with details on how targets will be achieved
The plan should also identify the resources required to achieve the targets in the next five years
The plan should demonstrate how each step interconnects with other steps

IWMPs are aligned with Integrated Development Plans (IDPs)
Municipalities must integrate their IWMPs into the IDPs
This ensures waste management services are aligned with other essential services such as water and sanitation, housing, and electricity provision