In terms of the National Environmental Waste Management Act 59 of 2008, municipalities are required to develop Integrated Waste Management Plans(IWMP)as part of their Integrated Development Plan (IDP). This is the 3rd Generation IWMP developed by the Cityof Cape Town,which aligns with the 2017-2022 IDP cycle, as provided for in the Municipal Systems Act (MSA). Stakeholders from within and outside the City were consulted in accordance with the MSA prescribed public participation process. The IWMP is aligned to National and Provincial imperatives as well as the City’s reviewed policies, plans and strategies.

In 2011 a MSA Section 78 Assessment of Alternate Service Delivery Mechanisms for Solid Waste Management was conducted. The study underpins the development of the 3rd Generation IWMP as a strategic document for waste management and inter alia recommended the appointment of a Transactional Advisor(TA), which was lately concluded.

Challenges

Cape Town Metropolitan is a major economic hub in the Western Cape, with an estimated population growth of 1.4 % per annum. Approximately 18% of the total households in the metropolitan are informal dwellings and backyard dwellers have been estimated to have doubled from the 75 000 reported during the 2011 Census. In as much as the City is striving to provide 100% of households with access to waste collection services, there are still challenges experienced with the provision of waste collection services to informal and back yard dwellers. This ultimately contributes to challenges such as limited landfill site airspace and increased illegal dumping.

The situation with illegal dumping has resulted in the strengthening of the by-law and penalties associated with dumping of waste in the City. One of the key instruments to monitor the compliance within the City of Cape Town is the accreditation of waste service providers and generators. To date 46 accredited waste generators and 212 waste service providers were accredited. However, the City is still sitting with a massive number of private waste management companies who are operating and not adhering to the Integrated Waste Management By-law.The management of waste tyres, building waste and sanitary waste remains problematic waste within the City.

Waste quantities

Between 2007 and 2015 there has been a steady increase in the quantities of waste generated. The average generation rate per person/annum was calculated at 0.58 tons. Of the total amount of rubble and greens arriving at landfills, which constituted almost 24% (by mass) or 15% (by volume) of the total waste land filled, only an estimated 15% (by mass) was diverted through crushing and chipping. Currently, recyclables collected from households account for a mere 0.5% (by mass) of total waste generated and composting only 0.3% (by mass) of total waste generated.

Waste minimisation initiatives

In a quest to reduce the amount of waste disposed at our landfill sites, various waste minimisation projects, aligned with education and awareness were implemented across the City. The Think-Twice programme has since been rolled-out to approximately 200 086Households (HH). The home composting bins programme has received overwhelming response from the residents since its inception in the 2015-16 Financial Year. To date, 5500 home composting bins were distributed. The City has also expanded its recyclable separation activities to 20 of our 24 Drop-off Facilities.

Waste Management Infrastructure

The City has invested in Solid Waste Drop-off facilities and Integrated Waste Management Facilities throughout the City in order to provide a place for safe disposal of residential waste and recyclables. These facilities are situated within a 7km radius of each other. The City continues to rehabilitate historic landfill sites with Kraaifontein and Swartklip having been completed in 2016.

Funding of Services

For the past 5 years the annual tariff increase was at an average of 5.5%.However, the sustainability of waste minimisation initiatives are at risk as the cost of collection of recyclables are high and waste tariffs would need to increase to allow for increased recovery. Various studies conducted by the City indicated the willingness of residents to pay for waste minimisation services (particularly Think-Twice), which will keep tariffs affordable if implemented.The metro is seen as a leader in diversion programme and has the potential to implement regional-initiatives to support neighbouring municipalities.Such initiatives however would require major capital investments with contractual complexities such as PPP’s to enable alternative service delivery options being implemented.

Objectives for the 5 year IWMP

• As part of the 3rd generation deliverables, the recommendations from the MSA Section 78 study,which includes projects such as waste to energy, landfill gas harvesting, development of composting plants, separation at source,resource economy study, waste characterisation study and waste system cost model will be implemented.


• The development of the regional landfill site, MRFs and Integrated Waste Management Facilities, upgrading and developing of landfill sites and drop-off facilities are some of the capital projects that will be implemented over the next 5 years to maximise landfill site airspace.


• More emphasis will be placed on the provision of basic waste management services, including informal areas and backyarders.


• In order to ensure compliance with National and Provincial statutes we intend to develop plans, strategies and policies and review where required. (eg.strategies for curbing illegal dumping and management of hazardous waste)

Monitoring

The IWMP will be monitored quarterly through the Solid Waste Management SDBIP and reviewed annually through the annual Business Plans and annual reports to Department of Environmental Affairs and Planning (DEADP).