Economic instruments for solid waste management in South Africa: opportunities and constraints

Abstract

This paper presents results from a survey of waste management authorities regarding the opportunities and constraints associated with the implementation of economic instruments for solid waste management in South Africa. Almost all respondents felt that EIs could lead to reduced waste generation and increased diversion of waste from landfill to recycling, and that they should eventually be implemented in the field of SWM in SA, although opinions varied as to the appropriate timeframe for implementation. The general consensus was that a number of fundamentals had to be in place first. However, this does not imply that the potential of EIs should be ignored. Instead, institutional limitations must be taken into account in the selection, design and implementation of such instruments. Indeed, it is proposed that EIs can be designed and implemented in an innovative, incremental way whereby capacity and experience are gradually developed over time.