Classes of separation required for participation

Recyclable, compostable, hazardous and waste definitions

Recyclable packaging materials, community donations, and electrical discards are all collectively known as 'dry property" within the terms of the National Integrated Waste Management Act.

Organic and compostable kitchen, household, and soft garden waste, which by definition are offsets of the natural growth of your property or organic assets, are all collectively known as 'wet property" within the terms of the National Integrated Waste Management Act.

Hazardous waste refers to materials that are potentially harmful to human health, or the environment. This includes batteries, paints, solvents, pesticides, and certain chemicals. This class of property must be dealt with correctly by professionals, or safely added to the waste for municipal collection.

Waste, by definition, has neither harvestable nor recoverable social, financial, or beneficial environmental values and must be placed within the wheelie bin or receptacle hired from the municipality to deal with your waste property correctly.

From 2008, wet and dry property must be separated before collection, and may be added separately to the municipal waste collection if there is no other choice.

Reasons to separate property from waste may surprise you.

Residents in South Africa are required to follow the prescribed laws of waste separation for several reasons:

1. Environmental Protection: Waste separation helps protect the environment by minimizing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills or is improperly disposed of. Separating waste at the source allows for more efficient recycling, composting, and treatment of different waste streams, reducing the overall environmental impact.
2. Resource Conservation: Separating waste into different categories allows for the recovery and reuse of valuable resources. Materials such as paper, plastic, glass, and metal can be recycled, reducing the need for raw material extraction and energy-intensive manufacturing processes.
3. Health and Sanitation: Proper waste separation minimizes the health risks associated with improper waste management. Separating wet waste, such as food scraps, from dry waste helps prevent the proliferation of pests, odours, and diseases.

I remind you again quickly that constitutionally protected property ownership by definition has inherent and easily harvestable social, financial, and environmental values, while waste has none.

By following property/waste separation requirements and categorizing property/waste correctly, residents can contribute to sustainable waste management practices, promote resource conservation, reduce pollution, and support initiatives such as composting and recycling, leading to improved environmental and socio-economic outcomes.