Scare for industry as levy mooted

The paper and packaging sector is worried the Department of Environmental Affairs is considering introducing a waste management levy on the industry.

Packaging SA, a nonprofit organisation that represents the paper and packaging industry, said about 3.5-million tonnes of paper and packaging was consumed annually in SA.

A total of 57% of that was voluntarily collected for recycling.

Packaging SA executive director Charles Muller said: “This is significant and compares favourably with First World countries. The other 43% that goes to landfill [or is discarded], contributes less than 2% of the overall waste of about 110-million tonnes per annum.”

The department is implementing a National Pricing Strategy for Waste Management, within which waste management charges will be set.

The department has noted that waste services are underpriced, discouraging waste generators and holders from reducing waste generation, as well as its reuse, recycling and recovery. In addition, the current pricing framework encourages landfill use, which is considered the cheapest waste disposal method by industry.

A PRICING STRATEGY FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT IS BEING IMPLEMENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS

However, the government wants to minimise the amount of waste going to landfills.

The Waste Information baseline study conducted by the department in 2011, showed that about 108-million tonnes of waste was generated in SA, 97million tonnes of which ended up in landfills. Only 10% of the waste generated in SA was recycled in 2011.

The department has asked the paper and packaging, and electrical, electronic equipment and lighting industries to prepare and submit industry waste-management plans for approval.

Muller said packaging “is an integral part of protecting, preserving and containing food — society can ill-afford unnecessary interference in its supply”.

He said cost increases, such as a waste management levy, would be passed on to consumers and, as a large part of packaging is used in basic foodstuffs, lower-income groups would probably suffer the most.

“Policy makers seem to be looking to the wrong industry and the incorrect measures to resolve the problem [waste].”