ENVIRONMENT CONSERVATION AMENDMENT BILL PRESENTATION BY DEAT

PURPOSE OF THE AMENDMENTS TO THE ACT To provide for the transfer of landfill sites administration from the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry to the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

PURPOSE OF THE AMENDMENTS TO THE ACT (Continued….) To provide the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism with powers to regulate waste streams through use of economic instruments ( in concurrence with Minister of Finance)

PURPOSE OF THE AMENDMENTS TO THE ACT (Continued….) To provide the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism with powers to regulate products which may pose a negative impact on the environment or human health when they reach the waste stream. E.g asbestos.

AMENDMENT 1 : SECTION 20 Responsibility for the administration of this function is sub-divided amongst DEAT, Provinces and DWAF DEAT and Provinces will take responsibility for the administration of general waste sites DWAF will take responsibility for the administration of hazardous waste sites

Reasons for the split of responsibilities The high risk posed by hazardous waste sites on water sources informed the decision between the two departments that DWAF remain with the responsibility of hazardous waste sites

AMENDMENT 2: SECTION 24(l) In an attempt to move away from the traditional approach of “command and control” DEAT intends to incentivise the collection, reuse and recycling of waste Amendment of this section is aimed at promoting waste minimisation and recycling of certain waste types through economic instruments

AMENDMENT 3: SECTION 24b This amendment empowers the Minister to make regulate products that may have detrimental effect on the environment if they enter the waste stream

Conclusion The amendments will enhance the ministers ability to discharge of his mandate THANK YOU