Johannesburg residents will have to do their own waste separation or risk being fined if proposed waste-management by-laws are put in place, according to a report in the Times on Monday.
The spokesperson for the City of Johannesburg, Gugu Mathibela, said the by-laws were being drafted and would be available for public comment in four months.
He said it would be part of a “carrot-and-stick” approach to help the city meet its obligations in terms of the domestic waste collection standards set by the National Waste Act, which was launched in January.
“National legislation has set targets for waste minimisation and this has implications for local governments. It forces the city to meet its legislative mandate and the by-law will facilitate that,” said Mathibela.
The by-laws would be introduced following the findings of a pilot project involving 35 000 households by Johannesburg waste management’s Pikitup.
Residents were asked to sort their recyclable waste, putting paper into orange bags and glass and other recyclable items in clear bags.
Environmental Affairs Department spokesperson Albi Modise said the department encouraged the adoption of a new regime in which less waste was produced and cities across South Africa were required to have recycling systems in place. – Sapa