WASTE MANAGEMENT IN THE SEDffiENG DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY: A STRATEGY FOR IMPROVED SERVICE DELIVERY BY KHATHUTSHELO ELIAS MASINDI DIP. MUN. ADM. (Ul'HN), M.A (PUBLIC MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION) (PU for CHE) Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN PUBLIC MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION at the NORTH-WEST UNIVERSITY VAAL TRIANGLE CAMPUS PROMOTER: Prof. E.P ABABIO - ---- NORT!-1-WEST UNIVL~SlTY NOVEMBER 2009. VUN'BESITl YA BOKONE-BOPHlRIMA NOORDWE$-U~l!VERSITEIT VAAlORIEHOEt.KAMPUS 2Ci0 ·02- 1 9 Al<ademiese Admin1strasie Posbus Box 1174 VANDERBIJLPARK 1900 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am deeply indebted to Prof. E.P Ababio, my academic promoter whose efforts and enthusiasm were really indispensable for the study. I also want to thank him for regularly reviewing and guiding my work and for making constructive criticisms and suggestions at the different stages of its development. Thanks very much and may God bless you more. I also wish to express my deepest appreciation to all officials from the Sedibeng District Municipality, Emfuleni, Lesedi and Midvaal Local Municipalities who contributed to the successful fulfillment of this study. Without their support, this study would not have been successfully completed. I wish to thank all councilors from the above municipalities for their contributions during data collection as well as the Emfuleni Mayor Clr. Mshudulu who selected me to lead and perform a hostile role of cleaning the Emfuleni wards with limited resources at our disposal as quest to render a sustainable service to the Emfuleni residents, and i. Lastly, my deepest appreciation to the Masindi - Muronga family, my wife Avhurengwi and my children for the support and encouragement they gave me during my days of reclusion especially when collecting data for 11 the study. Without them, this study would not have been completed. TO ALL OF YOU , I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. lll DECLARATION I declare that uWASTE MANAGEMENT AT THE SEDIBENG DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY: A STRATEGY FOR IMPROVED SERVICE DELIVERY" is my own work and that all the sources I have used or quoted have been duly acknowledged by means of complete references, and that I have not previously submitted the thesis for a degree at another university. KHATHUTSHELO ELIAS MASINDI IV SUMMARY Waste, that is any matter whether gaseous, liquid or solid or any combination thereof, originating from any residential, commercial or industrial area identified as undesirable or superfluous by-product, emission, residue or remainder of any process or activity tends to be a hazard to the environment. Waste is generated in all processes which transform materials from one state, form or medium to another. The management of waste in the Sedibeng District Municipality is a very complex problem. There are many reasons for this and these include: the diverse and voluminous waste stream; progressive accumulation of waste in the environment; large numbers of unpermitted waste disposal sites; the severe shortage of hazardous waste disposal sites and shortage of personnel in local municipalities qualified to implement existing legislation. The accumulation of waste in the district not only poses a serious and growing threat to health and quality of life, but also causes infrastructural damage such as the blocking of storm water drains and sewer by litter which ultimately leads to costly road and pavement destruction and increase in maintenance costs. The objective of the study was to investigate waste management activities in the Sedibeng District Municipality and to explore best practices as strategies for recommendations. The Sedibeng District Municipality comprises three local municipalities namely the Emfuleni, Lesedi and Midvaal Local Municipalities. Due to the fact that the Municipality forms part of the industrial hub of the Gauteng Province, there has been an excessive influx of the people into the district and, v as a result, more houses had to be built and more normal urban services such as electricity, sanitation, water and waste, had to be provided. The study intended to investigate different waste management strategies that are employed by the three local municipalities that could help reduce the impacts and volumes of waste that are generated by residents before such waste could pollute the environment. A further objective was to explore possible waste reduction mechanisms such as recycling that can help reduce waste vol umes before they reach the disposal site. Arising from the problem statement on waste management for this study, it is important that the locus of this study be directed towards the solution of the problem on waste management activities in the Sedibeng District Municipality. The following hypothesis was accordingly formulated: Waste management strategies and practices as currently practised in the Sedibeng District Municipality are obsolete, outdated and inadequate to attain a cleaner environment and as a result, there is a need to explore the development of more cost effective strategies in waste management. Comparative study of the different strategies that are employed in the three local municipalities as well as the challenges they face when providing the required service, were made. Similar study was applied to the achievements that are recorded as findings of the study. The challenges and success stories highlighted VI in the study were found through the use of questionnaires that were distributed to respondents in the three local municipalities. Questionnaires for the study were compiled for both councilors and municipal officials. The research instruments for the study included questionnaires, interviews and consultations with members of the community. Further technique was participant observation, the researcher being responsible for the provision of refuse removal services to the Evaton and Sebokeng communities. Amongst others, it was found that: discrepancies existed in the waste management processes and these include the following: • There was a serious problem of personnel shortage in municipalities as a result of financial constraints that led to non­ replacement of personnel who went on retirement, resigned or died; • Existing equipment do not compliment the growing population figures as well as the sizes of the municipality and as a result, residents opted to dump waste at their backyards as an alternative procedure for disposal of waste from their homes, and V11 • Problems attributed to illegal dumping increase each day and their resolution will be a function of implementation of compliance with legislation. • Community awareness of refuse collection schedule is at minimum, a situation which leads to illegal dumping of waste, and • Tariff on refuse removal is deemed to be prohibitive to African residential areas. The study ends with recommendations for management action on waste, and for further research. Vlll TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements ii Declaration iv Summary v Table of Contents viii List of Figures xiii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION: PROBLEM STATEMENT AND RESEARCH OUTLINE 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Orientation and Problem statement 1 1.3 Importance and relevance of study 9 1.4 Motivation 12 1.5 Research Questions 14 1.6 Research Objectives 15 1. 7 Hypothesis 17 1.8 Research Methods 17 1.9 Outline of Chapters 21 CHAPTER 2: THEORETICAL EXPOSITION OF THE CONCEPTS WASTE AND WASTE MANAGEMENT 2.1 Introduction 22 2.2 Definition of concepts 22 2.2.1 Meaning of the concept waste 23 2.2.2. Meaning of the concept waste management 27 lX 2.2.2.1 Waste prevention and minimization 30 2.2.2.2. Waste Recovery 35 2.2.2.2.1. Waste Recycling 41 2.2.2.2.2. Waste Treatment 48 2.2.2.2.3. Waste Composting 57 2.2.2.2.4. Waste Reuse 60 2.2.2.2.5. Waste collection 62 2.2.2.2.5.1. Household Refuse Collection 63 2.2.2.2.5.2. Business Refuse Collection 65 2.2.2.2.5.3. Removal of illegal dumps 67 2.2.2.2.5.3.1 . Promote Secure and Healthy Environment 70 2.2.2.2.5.4. Bulk Refuse Removal 72 2.2.2.2.5.5. Maintenance of mini dumps 74 2.2.3. Conclusion 76 CHAPTER 3: WASTE CLASSIFICATION, HANDLING AND DISPOSAL TECHNIQUES IN THE SEDIBENG DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY 3.1. Introduction 77 3.2. Types and Sources of Waste 78 3.2.1 General Waste 79 3.2.2 Hazardous Waste 80 3.2.3 Agricultural Waste 82 3.2.4 Construction Waste 83 3.2.5 Medical Waste 85 3.2.6 Bulky Waste 88 3.2.7 Industrial Waste 90 X 3.3 Waste Handling and Storage 93 3.4 Classification of Waste 96 3.5 Waste Information System (WIS) 100 3.6 Waste Disposal Options 104 3.6.1 Sanitary Landfill 105 3.6.2 On-site disposal 111 3.6.3 Waste transfer 113 3.6.4 Waste exchange 117 3.6.6 Waste incineration 122 3.6.6 Mini dumps facilities 125 3.6. 7 Street sweeping function 127 3.7 Conclusion 128 CHAPTER 4: EM PIRICAL STUDY ON WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AT THE SEDIBENG DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY 4.1 Introduction 131 4.2 Research Methodology 131 4.2.1 Qualitative Methods 133 4.2.2 Quantitative Methods 136 4.3 Research Instruments 136 4.3.1 Reliability 137 4.3.2 Validity 138 4.4 Data Collection Methods 139 4.4.1 Primary Source 139 4.4.1.1 Methods of Primary data collection 140 4.4.2 Secondary data 144 4.4.3 Questionnaires 144 4.4 3. 1 Open-ended-questions 145 XI 4.4.3.2 Close-ended-questions 145 4.4.4 Interviews 145 4.4.5 Consultation and informal discussions 148 4.5 Sampling Technique 149 4.5.1 Aims of sampling 150 4.5.2 Advantages of sampling 150 4.5.3 Disadvantages or limitations of sampling 151 4.5.4 Methods of selecting a sample 151 4.6 Empirical Research 152 4.6.1 Questionnaire for Officials 153 4.6.2 Questionnaire for Councillors 167 4.7 Conclusion 179 CHAPTER 5: SUMMARY, FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.