Review of South African Waste Management Practices and Their Integration into the Construction Industry

Abstract

Construction and demolition waste (CDW) is defined as non-hazardous waste produced during the construction, repair and rehabilitation, or demolition of infrastructure. While only 19% of the CDW produced in South Africa has been reported to be diverted annually, during the same period, up to 40% of the CDW produced in the Western Cape province of South Africa was beneficiated to be reused or recycled. This discrepancy is due to a shift in local government legislation and implementation thereof which, in turn, has encouraged a change in the behaviours of waste management and built environment professionals. This paper aims to review and contrast the waste management legislation and policies of South African local and national governments, as well as the waste management practices used at landfills and recycling facilities, and the quality and uses of materials produced at these facilities from CDW in various parts of the country.