Question NW3862 to the Minister of Environmental Affairs
04 December 2017 - NW3862
Hadebe, Mr TZ to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs
(a) How does her department plan to enforce the separate source initiative mentioned in the Operation Phakisa: Chemicals and Waste Economy and (b) what will happen to those who refuse/fail to comply?
Reply:
(a) The Department is putting Norms and Standards for waste separation at source in 2018/19. The administrative and criminal enforcement would be carried out by Environmental Management Inspectors as empowered by the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, Act No 59 of 2008. However, municipalities that have made separation of waste at source mandatory as part of their by-laws have enforcement powers that they can also exercise accordingly.
(b) The Department is bound by the Constitution to support those that fail to meet the Norms and
Standards however criminal enforcement can be considered as a last resort in keeping with
co-operative governance.
In terms of the co-operative governance approach, the Department will endevour to assist those to come into compliance. Enforcement will be considered as the last resort to ensure compliance with the Norms and Standards.
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