Abstract
South Africa’s Industrial Parks are engines of the country’s economy, yet they also are major sources of pollution and the current process for approving enterprises and ensuring that they meet environmental standards is ineffective. The facilities that have been built to mitigate pollution in the parks are not adequately used. Economic Industrial Parks (EIP) reflect the harmonisation of financial development and the protection of the environmental. Member-businesses pursue greater environmental, economic, and social performance through partnerships in handling environmental and resource matters. Eco-industrial parks (EIP) have not been developed in the South Western Township (Soweto) of the Gauteng province in South Africa, and furthermore, Informal EIPs have not been an area of focus for research thus creating a room for application. The purpose of the research is to develop an integrated environmental plan and framework that is focused on industrial Parks in the Soweto. The objective of the framework is to positively contribute to an eco-friendly environment, and thus in turn improving the quality of life for residents, workers and decision makers impacted by the industrial parks. The literature review found that there are various frameworks that exist internationally, but none of them are customised to South Africa or Soweto. The literature review also clarified that there are environmental, economic and social benefits in developing Eco-industrial parks. The development of a framework for and Eco-industrial park in Soweto is necessary to sustain the eco-system. This indicated that the objective of the study to develop an Eco-industrial park framework is valid and necessary. The techniques used to gather the data, included the design and distribution of the questionnaire, the use of factor analysis and its application, and addressed how the gaps identified in the critical assessment of literature are addressed. The study analysed the raw materials that the industrial parks in Soweto use and the waste that is produced in the Industrial Parks. It was found that that the Industrial Parks have challenges in waste management and are not informed in terms of waste management techniques that are available for them. It was also found that the businesses in the industrial park are keen on selling waste, but fewer on buying waste from other businesses...
D.Phil. (Engineering Management)