Programme Director,
MEC for Environmental Affairs and Development
Planning, Ms Tasneem Essop,
The Executive Mayor of the City Cape Town,
Honourable Nomaindia Mfeketo,
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Ms
Elizabeth Thabethe
Members of the media
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen;
In his message on World Environment Day 2002,
the Secretary General of the United Nations
Mr Koffie Annan said, “Despite the advance
and despite the considerable efforts and significant
achievements since the “Earth Summit”, the
latest reading reveals a planet still in need
of intensive care. Poverty, pollution and
population growth; rural poverty and rapid
urbanisation; wasteful consumption habits
and growing demands for water, land and energy
continue to place intense pressure on the
planet’s life support systems threatening
our ability to achieve sustainable development”.
Programme Director waste management is one
of the first building blocks for sustainable
development. As economies of countries begin
to grow, more and more sophisticated and special
wastes are produced and that calls for sound
and appropriate waste management strategies
to deal with these wastes. South Africa is
no exception, and as such it is important
that as our economy grow and become more sophisticated,
we must also begin to implement strategies
that will deal with these waste in a more
sustainable manner.
This glass MOU that we will be signing here
today evolves from extensive research, consultation
and negotiation and enjoys the support of
the National Glass Recycling Forum, which
includes the entire waste glass value chain
as well as the consumer groups. This initiative
aims to drive glass-recycling levels up from
the current 20 % to 50% per annum in fewer
than five years.
The signing of the MOU follows the signing
of the plastic bag MOU in 2002. We have learnt
some valuable lessons from the plastic bag
experience. My officials, who serve on the
National Glass Recycling Forum, have reliably
informed me that stakeholders have ensured
that all gaps and loopholes that existed during
the signing of the plastic bag MOU are dealt
with. It also pleases me to note that the
memorandum of understanding is based on targets
which will be set in consultation with my
department as well as an incentive based approach
which will result in creation of formal and
informal jobs.
The official signing of this MOU, also marks
the launching of a comprehensive national
recycling campaign, aimed at addressing the
challenges posed by waste glass in the environment.
Glass recycling has become a national government
priority following on the success of the “plastic
bag” drive, which has helped significantly
reduce plastic waste in the environment. It
is encouraging that in this instance industry
has taken a proactive stance in driving glass
recycling by agreeing on a model of self-regulation.
Key to this will be the setting up of a section
21-company, which will be managed according
to the guiding principles laid down in the
MOU.
This covers all areas of the recycling model
from the economics, the supply chain and funding
mechanisms to operational considerations,
as well as the various responsibilities across
the manufacturer, producers and user chain.
I am pleased to say that as a country, we
have reached a sterling moment for environmental
management especially waste management where
much more efforts are being engineered to
ensure that our current state of waste management
is improved.
We have taken a multilateral approach within
the country to handle waste. In 2001, the
department hosted the first National Waste
Summit at Polokwane, where stakeholders from
government, business community and civil society
reaffirmed their commitment to waste minimisation,
re-use and recycling for sustainable development.
All present committed themselves to reducing
waste generation and disposal and to develop
a plan for zero waste by 2022.
It is now clear that the Polokwane declaration
is starting to bear fruit. Such efforts as
the glass industry’s initiative to address
waste glass in the environmental are welcomed
and should be commended..
The Department of Environmental Affairs as
the lead agent for the environment in the
country, also takes overall responsibility
for integrated pollution and waste management.
Within the framework of achieving this responsibility,
the department with assistance from the Danish
government completed the National Waste Management
Strategy in 1999
Currently the department has prioritised
four projects within the framework of the
National Waste Management Strategy for the
effective implementation of the strategy.
These projects include:
Recycling
Waste Information System
Healthcare Waste
Capacity building
Central to these projects are pilot projects,
which are been set up throughout the country.
We as the department will appreciate partnerships
with business in an attempt to ensure that
these projects are successful and become a
core of a better waste management for South
Africa.
The vision of our government is to develop,
to put into action and to uphold an integrated
pollution and waste management system, which
contributes to sustainable development and
a measurable improvement in the quality of
life. This will be achieved by harnessing
the energy and commitment of all South Africans
for the effective prevention, minimisation
and control of pollution and waste.
In conclusion I wish to thank everyone who
have been part of this process, especially
the National Glass Recycling Forum for the
sterling job done to ensure that this MOU
is brought to life today.
It is upon every South African including
organised business and the civil society to
take up this challenge and ensure that we
achieve sustainable environmental management
for the benefit of the present and future
generation.
Together we will succeed.
I thank you.
