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Ref: 02/1/5/2
MINISTER
QUESTION NO. 2150 FOR WRITTEN REPLY: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
A draft reply to Mr W M Madisha (Cope) to the above-mentioned question is
enclosed for your consideration.
Ms Nosipho Ngcaba
DIRECTOR-GENERAL
DATE:
DRAFT REPLY APPROVED/AMENDED
MRS B E E MOLEWA, MP
MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
DATE:
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
(For written reply)
QUESTION NO.2150 [NW2624E]
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 21 of 2014
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 25 October 2014
Mr W M Madisha (Cope) to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs:
(1) Whether the Government through the African Union and other bodies and
institutions is taking steps to stop the shipment of hazardous wastes
from developed countries to Africa for disposal; if not, why not; if
so, what are the relevant details;
(2) Whether she will make a statement on the matter of transnational
movement of hazardous waste?
2150. THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS REPLIES:
(1) In all SAâs international engagements [Basel Conventionâs Open Ended
Working Group (OEWG) and the Conference of the Parties (COP),
Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM),
United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA)] steps are always taken
to stop the shipment of hazardous wastes from developed countries to
Africa for disposal.
These actions are undertaken in line within the provisions of the
Basel Convention on the control of trans-boundary movement of
hazardous waste and their disposal, which SA is a Party to. The Basel
Convention was created to protect human health and the environment
against the adverse effects resulting from the generation, trans-
boundary movements and management of hazardous waste throughout their
lifecycle, from production or manufacturing and transport to final use
and disposal. The Basel Convention entered into force on 05th of May
1992, and South Africa acceded it on 05th of May 1994.
Furthermore, such steps are also taken in line with the Ban amendment
of the Basel Convention, which South Africa is in the process of
ratifying. The Basel convention ban amendment once ratified, bans with
immediate effect all export of hazardous wastes from OECD to non-OECD
countries for final disposal as well as the export of hazardous wastes
intended for recovery and recycling by 31 December 1997 (Decision
II/12).
The Ban Amendment, in full, states that:
"Each party listed in Annex VII shall prohibit all trans-boundary
movements of hazardous wastes which are destined for operations
according to Annex IV A (disposal operations - operations which do not
lead to the possibility of resource recovery, recycling, reclamation,
direct re-use or alternative uses), to States not listed in Annex VII.
Each party listed in Annex VII shall phase out by the 31 December
1997, and prohibit as of that date, all trans-boundary movements of
hazardous wastes under Article 1, paragraph 1 (a) of the Convention
which are destined for operations according to Annex IV B (operations
which may lead to resource recovery, recycling reclamation, direct re-
use or alternative uses) to States not listed in Annex VII. Such trans-
boundary movements shall not be prohibited unless the wastes in
question are characterized as hazardous under the Convention".
(2) Yes, South Africa continues to strive for the prevention of
Africa being made a toxic dump of hazardous waste by developed
countries. This is always advocated within the provisions of the Basel
Convention, which SA and most other African countries are party to,
more so in light of the potential adverse health effects such as fumes
emanating from the burning of such hazardous waste. Furthermore, SA,
together with its partners such as the Africa Institute, which is the
Regional Centre for the Basel Convention for English-speaking African
countries, and hosted by the Department of Environmental Affairs, and
the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM),
encourages the environmentally sound management of hazardous waste.
For example, recently, the Africa Institute, after having held a
successful regional meeting on the use of economic incentives as one
of the tools to manage hazardous waste in an environmentally sound
manner, developed and distributed in all English-speaking African
countries which are Parties to the Africa Institute, educational
materials on the following hazardous waste streams:
1. Used oil
2. E-waste
3. Used lead acid batteries
4. Used tyres
The huge potential of job creation within the hazardous waste stream
sector is also acknowledged. To this effect, SA receives and accepts
hazardous waste for disposal from other SADC countries into its
licensed facilities due to the lack of capacity in those countries to
dispose of such waste in an environmentally acceptable manner. The
proximity rule is applied where wastes are to be treated as close as
possible to the source of generation. Furthermore, the recycling of
hazardous waste in an environmentally sound manner is also
encouraged. It is for this primary reason that South Africa does not
intend to ratify the Bamako Convention, in order to ensure that SAâs
recycling industry is protected and encouraged to grow. The industry
is encouraged to utilise the opportunity which also contributes
towards job creation and enterprise development. Such facilities
should ensure that the working environment is safe and the workers
are informed of possible health and safety dangers.
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