Abstract
M.Sc.
Large development initiatives are currently being implemented in South Africa. Many small
towns such as the town of Roossenekal are affected by large developments, especially in
terms of their service delivery capacity and resources.
This study attempts to illustrate how effective waste management can be implemented in
small rural towns such as Roossenekal by incorporating current legislation and development
plans as a driving force. The waste stream generated in this town comprises large enough
volumes of recyclable waste to attain the national waste-to-landfill reduction targets. Various
measures such as at-source separation and the bulk storage of recyclables for collection by
commercial recyclers, as well as domestic composting, are considered to be relevant.
This study shows that fairly simple interventions could have overridingly positive effects on
the management of waste in the town of Roossenekal and that the vision of attaining national
strategic goals and objectives could in fact be realised. Cognisance has been taken of the
current policy governing waste management and it is evident that by applying the waste
hierarchy approach, simple and custom-made solutions can be identified.
This study identifies development and national policy as key drivers in implementing effective
waste management strategies. Large projects such as the construction of the De Hoop dam,
as well as commercial ventures such as the mines and commercial recyclers that are
currently operating in the town and its surrounds, are considered to be major role-players
which could make a valuable contribution to waste management.