By Justin Bott.
Photo Credit:EImage.
According to the 2024 Global Waste Management Outlook, municipal waste generation – which was already at 2.1 billion tonnes in 2023 – is set to almost double to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050. While South Africa has strong governance and laws in place for waste management, it is unfortunate that the country still faces challenges when it comes to waste practices that degrade air quality – making air pollution the second biggest threat to health and claiming the lives of an estimated of 25,800 South Africans each year. Not only are these numbers staggering, but they are also a warning that we need to do better when it comes to waste practices to safeguard human health and protect our environment.
As we approach World Environmental Health Day on 26 September, this year’s theme: ‘Clean air, healthy people’ – reinforces Interwaste’s commitment to driving sustainable waste management practices that protect both the environment and human health.
Improper waste practices and air pollution
Clean air is not a ‘nice to have’ – it is essential to human health. Yet, in most parts of our country – particularly in townships or informal settlements, where people have no choice due to minimal to no service delivery – open burning of waste is still widely practised. Research indicates that the burning of waste produces high levels of harmful emissions such as particulate matter, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds and other toxic substances.
Materials such as plastics, batteries, and wood all release harmful chemicals when burned. For example, plastic releases cancer causing chemicals, batteries release small particles of heavy metals and wood releases harmful fumes. The particulates from these materials are small enough to enter the lungs, cross into bloodstream, cause or even worsen cardiovascular disease, asthma, and lung cancer.
At the same time, waste left unmanaged in illegal dumping sites or poorly operated facilities produce methane – a potent greenhouse gas that not only contributes to climate change but can also cause spontaneous fires, further compromising air quality for surrounding communities. By contrast, properly engineered and well managed landfill sites, are specifically designed to minimise these risks through stringent controls, gas management systems and compliance with environmental regulations
South Africa, like some other African countries, is rapidly urbanising. Our country ranks as the twelfth largest emitter of greenhouse gas in the world, due to our heavy reliance on fossil fuels for electricity generation. This reliance is also a major factor behind poor air quality in large cities.
What are the implications?
The cost of polluted air goes beyond individuals’ health and medical expenses. There are economic and societal implications too. Air pollution impacts productivity by reducing people’s ability to work at their full capacity – which not only contributes to increased rates of absenteeism but also shortens lifespans through early death. This ripples through the economy, destabilising household economies and increasing social inequality – resulting in hidden costs that accumulate over time. This is why investing in clean air is not only a moral imperative, but also a sound economic decision.
What needs to change?
Taking the above into consideration, it is clear that air pollution from poor waste management is a growing challenge, and action is needed now before it escalates. First, we need to minimise or completely stop open burning of waste and implementing stricter regulations can help.
It is also critical to ensure proper service delivery of waste collection in townships and informal settlements to prevent waste from pilling up. Households and businesses should continue, and even further encourage separating organic waste and recyclables, which can significantly reduce methane emissions.
Furthermore, government, in collaboration with municipalities, businesses, and the broader public should revise and implement stricter laws and policies when it comes to waste practices. Research shows that taking these actions and investing in proper waste management systems could result in savings of approximately R12 billion. This demonstrates that proactive air quality management can deliver both healthier communities and significant economic benefits, highlighting the value of prioritising sustainable waste and air quality practices.
As a leader in sustainable waste management, Interwaste also has a role to play in driving these changes. By implementing best practices in waste collection, sorting, and treatment, our purpose is to minimise the amount of waste sent to dumps and reduce emissions from operations.
We urge the nation not to take for granted the importance of proper waste management practices, as this impacts air quality, climate and human health. It is time we start treating waste as the valuable resource it can become, managing it in ways that protect health, the environment, and future generations.
Justin Bott is the CEO of Interwaste.