The National Environmental Management: Waste Act (NEMWA) 59 of 2008, in conjunction with GN R921, governs waste activities and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) in South Africa. It mandates obtaining a waste management license before initiating any waste-related activities listed in the regulations.
NEMWA introduced a licensing system that replaced the previous permit regime under the Environment Conservation Act (73 of 1989). Waste activities fall into three categories: Category A, involving general waste activities with low thresholds and known impacts, requiring a Basic Assessment (BA); Category B, entailing activities with higher thresholds and significant potential impacts, necessitating a full EIA; and Category C, which requires registration under relevant norms and standards without an EIA.
NEMWA (National Environmental Management Waste Act), Act 59 of 2008, aligns with data protection measures in accordance with POPIA (Protection of Personal Information Act) during electronic asset disposal. It also highlights the significance of information security compliance, as detailed in MISS (Minimum Information Security Standards), effectively addressing both environmental responsibility and data security.
View the official proposed amendments to the National EPR Regulations from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment over here
