GENERAL WASTE COLLECTION STANDARDS FOR GAUTENG. (Incorporating Cleaning Standards)

GENERAL WASTE COLLECTION STANDARDS FOR GAUTENG (Incorporating Cleaning Standards) FEBRUARY 2010

Acknowledgements The Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development wishes to acknowledge the input from Zitholele Consulting on the development of the General Waste Collection Standards as well as all the stakeholders who have contributed during the public participation process. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT Glencairn Building, 73 Market Street, Johannesburg P O Box 8769, Johannesburg, 2000 Telephone: (011) 355-1900 Fax: (011) 355-1000 Email: gdard@gauteng.gov.za Website : www.gdard.gpg.gov.za

TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION PAGE 1 INTRODUCTION... 1 1.1 What is a Standard?... 1 1.2 Structure of the Standards... 1 1.3 Use of the Standards... 2 1.4 Assistance, commentary on standards and contact with GDARD... 2 2 OBJECTIVES OF THESE GENERAL WASTE COLLECTION STANDARDS... 3 3 DEFINITIONS... 3 4 APPLICABLE LEGISLATION... 4 5 APPROACH TO DEVELOPING THE STANDARDS... 5 5.1 Investigation Report outcomes... 5 6 PRINCIPLES FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF STANDARDS... 5 6.1 Health, Environment and Quality of Life... 5 6.2 Integrated waste management approach... 6 6.3 Worker health and safety... 7 7 LEVEL OF SERVICE... 7 7.1 Waste collection service levels... 7 7.2 Free basic services... 9 8 STANDARDS... 9 8.1 Collection... 10 8.1.1 Domestic - Separation at source collection... 10 (a) Storage containers... 10 (b) Frequency of collection... 11 (c) Collection service... 11 8.1.2 Domestic - Routine Door-to-door service... 11 (a) Storage containers... 11 (b) Frequency of collection... 13 (c) Collection... 13 (d) Primary collection in high density areas (such as informal settlements)... 14 8.1.3 Domestic - Bulk container service... 14 (a) Storage containers... 14 (a) Frequency... 15 (b) Secondary Collection Service (at high density areas such as informal settlements)... 15 (c) Collection... 15 8.1.4 Business/Industrial waste collection (small container and bulk collection)... 16

(a) Storage Containers... 16 (b) Frequency of collection... 17 (c) Collection service... 17 (d) Separation at source collection... 18 8.1.5 Special events... 19 (a) Pre-arranged Events... 19 (b) Non Pre-arranged Events... 20 8.2 Cleaning Standards... 20 8.2.1 Cleaning... 21 (a) Litter containers... 21 (b) High use areas (including town and city centres)... 22 (c) Other areas requiring regular cleaning... 23 (d) Leaf Removal... 23 (e) Lane flushing... 24 (f) Removal of animal kills... 24 (g) Mechanical Sweeping... 24 (h) Cleaning Frequency... 25 (j) Cleaning service... 25 (j) Traffic Safety... 26 8.2.2 Illegal dumping... 26 8.3 Transport... 27 8.4 Health and Safety... 28 8.5 Recording of complaints... 30 9 HOME COMPOSTING... 31 10 IMPLEMENTATION... 32 10.1 Critical risks to implementation... 32 10.1.1 Human resource capacity... 32 10.1.2 Financial capacity and implications... 32 Costing / Tariff setting... 33 10.1.3 Lack of education and awareness... 34 10.1.4 Population and economic growth... 34 10.1.5 Economic factors... 34 10.1.6 Legislative and governmental processes... 35 10.1.7 Reporting... 36 10.2 Implementation plan (explanation of the phased approach)... 36 10.3 Sustainability... 36 11 PERFORMANCE & MONITORING... 37 11.1 Key Performance Indicators... 38 11.2 Monitoring responsibilities and monitoring periods... 39 11.2.1 Responsibilities... 39 11.2.2 Monitoring requirements and periods... 39 12 EVALUATION AND REVIEW... 39 13 THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADDITIONAL WASTE MANAGEMENT STANDARDS FOR GAUTENG... 40

LIST OF APPENDICES APPENDIX 1. List of definitions for the General Waste Collection Standards for Gauteng. APPENDIX 2. Details of relevant key legislation related to the General Waste Collection Standards for Gauteng APPENDIX 3. Key issues identified from the Investigation Report APPENDIX 4. List of possible cleansing standards for metropolitan municipalities APPENDIX 5. Information on National Treasury Funding APPENDIX 6. Examples and illustration of storage containers, vehicles and transport equipment APPENDIX 7. Photo Graphic Standard APPENDIX 8. Reference material on litter cleanliness codes of practice and user manuals (international) APPENDIX 9. Template of area cleaning plan

1 INTRODUCTION The following General Waste Collection Standards (GWCS) have been developed to ensure the provision of consistent, uniform waste collection and cleaning services which are equitable, appropriate, environmentally and socially acceptable, to the communities in Gauteng,. Section 152 (1) of the Constitution states that one of the responsibilities of local government is to ensure the provision of services to communities in a sustainable manner. It indicates that provincial government has the exclusive responsibility to ensure that local governments carry out these functions effectively. The National Waste Management Strategy (NWMS) and the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, Act 59 of 2008, ( Waste Act ) which is the legislative enactment of the NWMS, stipulate Provincial Government s role in developing standards for the provision of waste management services and waste collection. These standards will ultimately be promulgated as provincial regulations. These GWCS should be used to supplement the existing by-laws and should at no time be in conflict with the municipal by-laws. It is the purpose of these standards to promote a healthy environment for the general public. The GWCS deal with the technical aspects of waste collection service delivery within Gauteng and detail various collection requirements. The GWCS developed for Gauteng are minimum standards which are applicable to all service providers involved in the provision waste collection services within Gauteng. The minimum standards are outcomes based, with standards focussing on end results. How these outcomes are achieved, with respect to the methodology used is up to the service provider, provided the procedures, methodologies and systems used adhere to a number of aspects indicated within this standards document. Therefore these minimum GWCS accommodate the smaller local municipalities and the larger metropolitan municipalities in Gauteng as well as the smaller and larger private service providers. The GWCS document has been divided into a number of sections which consider aspects associated with the standards such as definitions and related legislation, levels of service; the specified standards; tools and barriers to implementation; monitoring; PPP, etc. 1.1 What is a Standard? The South African National Standards Authority (2005) states that a Standard is a published document which lists specifications and procedures established to ensure that a material, product, method or service is fit for its purpose and performs in the manner it was intended for. Standards define quality and establish safety criteria. Conformance to standards ensures quality and consistency. 1.2 Structure of the Standards For the purposes of the GWCS document it is understood that General waste refers to urban domestic and business waste (including building waste), non-hazardous industrial waste and 1 P a g e

not hazardous waste, health care waste or liquid wastes. The word collection in the phrase General Waste Collection Standards, refers to both the collection operation, which constitutes the formal waste stream which is controlled from generation to the transfer or disposal point, and the cleaning operation, which addresses the informal waste stream, i.e. that waste which is not controlled such as litter and illegal dumping. The standards are therefore made up of two main components namely: Waste Collection (domestic and bussiness/non-hazardous industrial waste); and Cleaning (street sweeping, litter picking, littering and illegal dumping) In addition, the standards also cover other waste management activities and related issues such as health and safety, and transport. 1.3 Use of the Standards These GWCS have been developed to be used by all waste collection service providers active within Gauteng. It is the intention of GDARD that these standards are fully implemented and their implementation will be monitored. The service provider must ensure that training is given to all employees on the content of the standards and implementation. Any issues or problems associated with implementation of the standards must be communicated to GDARD (Section 1.4) so that they can be taken into account during subsequent reviews of the standards. 1.4 Assistance, commentary on standards and contact with GDARD For assistance in understanding and implementing the GWCS within current services, the GDARD Waste Management Directorate can be contacted, details of which are provided below: Tel: (011) 355-1900 Fax: (011) 355-1000 Address: Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Waste Directorate P.O.Box 8769 Johannesburg 2000 Email: gdard@gauteng.gov.za Website : www.gdard.gpg.gov.za 2 P a g e

Any comments on the GWCS document that will aid in improving the standards and ensure practical implementation of the standards, should be sent to GDARD for assessment. These comments must be in writing and should indicate the writer s name and contact details. 2 OBJECTIVES OF THESE GENERAL WASTE COLLECTION STANDARDS The objectives of these general waste collection standards are: To ensure that human health and the environment is not compromised by the provision of waste collection services; To enable uniformity, and equitable waste management service To provide the minimum standards by which any service provider engaged in waste collection must comply; To ensure a consistent level of cleanliness that is environmentally and socially acceptable; To support best practice; To provide the generator of general waste with the minimum standards and service levels to be adhered to by the responsible authority and any service provider; To uphold the principles of Integrated Waste Management and the waste hierarchy; To facilitate separation at source for the continuing reduction of waste disposed to landfill; and To consider a system of monitoring and regulation for the implementation of the standards by the service providers and assessing the effectiveness of the standards. 3 DEFINITIONS In order to ensure that terms are always used in the same context and everyone using these standards has the same understanding of a specific term, a list of the most frequently used terms in waste collection and cleaning practices are included below. Most of the definitions listed have been obtained from the Waste Act, the Gauteng Integrated Waste Management Policy and compared to the approved definitions developed by GDARD as part of the guideline document for Integrated Waste Management Planning for Local Authorities. In addition, those terms not found within these aforementioned documents, were investigated in other South Africa legislation and guideline documents as well as international ordinances. It is advised that these definitions are adopted when local by-laws are revised. The list of definitions has been attached as Appendix 1. However, the Gauteng Provincial Integrated Waste Management Policy (2005) has adopted the National Waste Classification System as the foundation for all waste classification in the Province and embraces a system of 3 P a g e

classification of waste that facilitates the separation at source of different waste types. This is particularly true in some cases, where a waste stream may be considered a resource for recovery and reuse or recycling purposes, including the generation of energy. 4 APPLICABLE LEGISLATION Numerous legislative documents relating to waste, waste management, service provision and related issues such as transport, health and safety, etc. have been promulgated. Not only does legislation prescribe what is required by all levels of government, civil society and industry, but it is often explicit in the roles and responsibilities of government. Legislation is a key tool used to drive the establishment of the GWCS, as well as for the effective implementation of the standards. Notwithstanding this, the GWCS can be viewed as a key regulatory mechanism to implement legislative requirements. For the purposes of this document, current and impending legislation are important for a number of reasons, namely: It establishes the current parameters and/or requirements which must be taken into account in the development and implementation of the GWCS; and It determines the institutional powers, functions and responsibilities of the different spheres of government (including local government). Details of relevant key legislation related to the GWCS are included in Appendix 2. However, a list of the relevant legislation is given below: The Constitution Act no. 108 of 1996; The Municipal Systems Act no. 32 of 2000 and Amendment Act no. 44 of 2003; The Environmental Conservation Act no. 73 of 1989 ; National Environmental Management Act no. 107 of 1998; The National Health Act no. 61 of 2003; Municipal Finance Management Act no. 56 of 2004; National Road Traffic Act no. 93 of 1996; Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993; National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act 103 of 1977 (Regs. No: R 432, 8 March 1991): National Environmental Management: Waste Act, Act 59 of 2008; Waste Management By-laws; Standards, guidelines and policies 4 P a g e

The Integrated Pollution and Waste Management Policy and the National Waste Management Strategy; The Gauteng Provincial Integrated Waste Management Policy; Minimum Waste Recycling Standards for South Africa; and Draft National Waste Collection Standard Guidelines. 5 APPROACH TO DEVELOPING THE STANDARDS 5.1 Investigation Report outcomes As part of the development of the GWCS, the compilation of an Investigation Report was conducted to understand the current waste collection and cleaning situation within Gauteng as well as report on case studies and best practice examples from a national and international perspective. A number of key issues have been identified from the studies conducted which have been used to inform the development of the GWCS and are included in Appendix 3. 6 PRINCIPLES FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF STANDARDS A number of critical elements crucial to the development of the GWCS have been described within this section. Not only is it essential that a waste service is provided, but the underlying principles or elements associated with this practice need to be defined. 6.1 Health, Environment and Quality of Life Quality of life is enshrined as a core value of the Constitution of South Africa. Within the Bill of Rights in the Constitution, the rights may be viewed as having direct or indirect relevance to the environment. The environmental right can be divided into two components i.e. the right to a clean and healthy environment and a positive obligation on the state to pass legislation to give effect to that right. Within the Bill of Rights it becomes clear that: all organs of state are bound by the right and must give effect to it; in giving effect to the right, the state must establish an effective regulatory framework; and that as poor waste management practises can lead to pollution, ecological degradation and negative health effects, an effective waste management system will fall within the ambit of the right. 5 P a g e

In addition to the Constitution, the issue of adequate and effective waste management has always been directly linked to the issue of human health and the consequential effects of poor waste management on human health. 6.2 Integrated waste management approach The Waste Act follows the waste management hierarchy approach, which is an internationally accepted approach underpinning integrated waste management. The waste management hierarchy prioritises waste management options, in descending order of priority by promoting and encouraging waste reduction: Firstly by preventing the generation of waste; Secondly introducing waste minimisation (where the quantity of waste is reduced which is often related to the introduction of cleaner production technologies); Thirdly establishing recycling of waste (re-use, recovery and composting); Fourthly considering treatment to reduce the harmful effects of waste (physical, thermal and chemical destruction); and Finally implementing the practice of safe waste disposal. The South African government has adopted this approach as a tool to reduce waste generation and disposal as well as to meet the targets stated within the Polokwane Declaration 2001. Within the context of the GWCS, this approach relates to waste recycling of post consumer waste and in particular the requirements necessary for collection. The Service Providers must introduce, implement and/or facilitate separation at source. Separating out recyclables and or compostables at the point of generation (domestic and business entities) is required to: Assist the service provider in the collection of recyclables, thereby preventing double handling of all domestic waste at a secondary point, which could have associated health and safety issues, as well as increased costs; Limit contamination of recyclables guarantees a higher selling price; Focus on specific recyclables that can currently be recycled and that have a viable end market; Create a waste awareness/consciousness for the generator of the waste which will further enhance the prevention or minimisation of waste generated; Aid in diverting waste away from landfill and reduce the unnecessary consumption of valuable airspace. It must be noted however, that additional mechanisms and facilities will be required to handle, treat and process the recyclables collected at source. Ensuring sustainability and financial 6 P a g e

viability within all aspects of the recycling cycle is critical. The recycling program should be dictated by the best available technology not entailing excessive cost (BATNEEC). 6.3 Worker health and safety As waste collection and cleaning is labour intensive, there are a number of critical health and safety issues that come into play which have to be taken account of in the GWCS: The type of work undertaken by waste collectors and cleaners is more often than not very physically demanding; That waste in itself is unhealthy and hazardous at times; Equipment and vehicles used by workers can be complex and highly mechanised; Work is often undertaken in difficult and relatively unsafe environments; and Service delivery and productivity is directly linked to ensuring the health and safety of the workers. 7 LEVEL OF SERVICE 7.1 Waste collection service levels In waste collection terms, the level of service refers to the frequency of the waste removal service and the type of service provided. There are various levels of service that can be applied in the provision of waste collection services, with a consequent increase in the cost of the service with increasing levels of sophistication of the service. Having said that introducing waste minimisation can be a cost saver, as less waste needs to be collected, less waste is landfilled and a product can be derived from recyclable waste. In terms of the National Government policy, every person / household has a right to be provided with at least the basic level of municipal services. Regarding waste collection, the basic level of service is seen as the removal of waste from the dwelling area at least once per week, in a safe and healthy manner. The frequency of collection may be increased from once per week if: The residents have insufficient storage space due to the high density of dwellings; The storage containers have insufficient capacity to store a week s waste without overflowing and causing a litter problem; The waste is of such a nature that it would cause a health hazard if left for a week before collection (e.g. highly putrescible waste). 7 P a g e

Table 1 indicates the criteria to be used for solid waste removal service levels. All local municipalities involved in the delivery of waste management services must comply with these criteria and should provide a basic level of service as a minimum. For the Basic Level of Service, households should have adequate on-site storage containers which can also be used to transport waste to the communal container. The communal containers should be placed within reasonable walking distance (200 m) of the households, and the communal containers should be such as to allow for easy dumping of waste. Table 1: Levels of Domestic Waste Collection Service for Urban Areas Level of service Service option Explanation of service Basic Level of Service Community transfer to central collection points (a) Community appointed members collect the waste door-to-door at least once per week (or more frequently if required). (b) They transport it to central collection points located within acceptable walking distance of the households serviced (200m). (c) The municipality, or appointed contractor, then transports the waste from these secondary collection points to the landfill, on Intermediate Level of Service Organised transfer to central collection points the same day as the primary collection. (a) Local contractors are appointed to collect the waste door-to-door at least once per week (or more frequently if required). (b) They transport it to central collection points, perhaps using hand or bicycle-carts. The municipality, or appointed contractor, then transports the waste from these secondary collection points to the landfill, on the same day as the primary collection. Full Level of Service Kerbside collection (a) Households put their separated out waste out for collection once a week (or more frequently if required). (b) The municipality or appointed contractors collect the recyclable and residual waste from each household in trucks, or with tractors and trailers, etc. and transports it to the landfill and or recycling handling facility. For Rural Areas, the following is recommended regarding levels of service: In dense rural settlements, service levels would be similar to those indicated in Table 1 for urban areas. In scattered rural areas and farms, on-site disposal may be appropriate if the composition of the waste is primarily organic and if households are sparsely settled. However, if appropriate on-site disposal facilities do not exist both rural households and farms may require a regular waste removal service via either communal or individual collection. In no circumstances may waste be burnt by any service provider. For Businesses, the minimum level of service for routine collected waste would be at least once per week, or more frequently in the case of highly putrescible wastes (e.g. wastes from restaurants, hotels, food shops, markets, etc). However, an exception can be made in cases where the frequency can be determined by type and quantity, where a generator of small quantities of inert dry waste which does not pose a health, safety and environmental threat can safely be provided with a service not less than every two weeks. 8 P a g e

In addition, bulk waste collection services can be provided to the business/commercial sector, in which case the bulk containers would be collected on call when full. There are a number of waste collection services that are provided by the larger local authorities such as the Metropolitan Municipalities, which are not necessarily applicable in the smaller municipalities. This list of Cleansing Services showing the appropriate service levels is included in Appendix 4 for reference. 7.2 Free basic services The national government in 2000 initiated a Free Basic Services Policy aimed at the provision of free basic municipal services to every poor household in the country. While local government is charged with the service delivery and implementation role, national government is responsible for assistance with the provision of the financial resources to local government, and provincial governments must monitor the implementation and provide support if necessary. Municipalities can either receive their part of the equitable share, or they can apply for infrastructure grants or raise their own revenue through service charges. Details regarding National Treasury Funding (Equitable Share and MIG) are included in Appendix 5. Municipalities however, need to analyse what their costs for free basic service provision is, what allocations they receive and what their internal resource base is. This should then form the basis of what would be affordable and therefore what the most suitable options for implementation would be. The Department of Planning and Local Government suggests that targeted subsidies are often the preferred approach. Targeting of subsidies requires the identification of poor households and would normally occur within the framework of an indigents or pro-poor policy of a municipality. The source of income for free basic service subsidies can be from cross subsidies within the municipality or from external operating subsidies, primarily the equitable share. The use of service level differentiation may also be needed to implement a free basic municipal services strategy. Where it is unaffordable to provide a high level of service to all households, regardless of whether they are contributing to the costs of the service or not, a municipality can provide some households with a lower, yet adequate service level. In this manner a municipality can provide free basic services to all households, with some households choosing to receive, and pay for, a higher level of service. This would however have to be by area rather than by individual households. Based on the foregoing, the Basic Level of Waste Collection Service as indicated in Table 1 would be considered as the minimum Free Basic Service to be provided. 8 STANDARDS Holistically, the temporary storage, collection and transporting of waste shall be conducted in a manner which will: 9 P a g e

Inhibit the harbouring of flies, rodents, and other vectors; Prevent situations arising for the transmission of diseases to man or animals; Prevent wind blown litter so as not to be injurious to human health and the environment; Prevent water pollution by limiting the escape of waste or leachate, which could impact stormwater management systems; and Minimise offensive odours, dust, unsightliness, and aesthetically unsightly conditions, and prevent the accumulation of materials in an untidy and unsafe manner so as to become a fire, health and safety hazard. The following minimum standards have been developed for the different types of waste collection services offered to both the domestic and business/industrial sectors for the collection of general non-hazardous wastes. It must be noted that if a local authority contracts in a service provider to undertake work on its behalf, a service level agreement/contract needs to be drawn up between the two parties and the standards will be applicable to the service provider. Examples and illustrations of storage containers, collection vehicles and equipment is given in Appendix 6 to compliment what is provided in the text. All Service Providers to take note that they must be registered with their local authority if they collect and transport waste within that municipal area. 8.1 Collection 8.1.1 Domestic - Separation at source collection Service Providers must have a clearly defined policy on separation at source and in the case of local authorities, supported by appropriate by-laws. At the outset of separation at source practices in Gauteng, the following minimum standards shall apply: (a) Storage containers The service provider will only collect waste in containers which are suitable for this collection system. The minimum standards for containers are as follows: i. Containers can include a bag (bin liner), reusable bins (such as 120l or 240l bins) or reusable fibre type bags. ii. Containers will be colour coded blue being the approved standard colour, which will identify the container as exclusively for recyclable material within the Gauteng Province. 10 P a g e

iii. Recyclable containers must be watertight and with a thickness sufficient to prevent breakage, tearing or splitting upon collection and shall be securely tied. iv. Blue disposable bags (bin liners) should either be made of material which is recyclable and or contain a blend of the maximum practicable recyclable content and virgin plastic (thickness is sufficient to prevent breakage, tearing or splitting upon collection). v. These bags shall have an overall length of between 0.5 meters and 1 meter when empty. (b) Frequency of collection i. The service provider shall collect recyclable waste (dry waste component) at least once a week. (c) Collection service i. The service provider will communicate with the community provided with a source separation service regarding the system, what recyclables should be separated out, where recyclables will be transported to, etc. and will develop a comprehensive awareness and education programme. ii. The Service Provider will be identifiable to the community by way of uniforms or ID tags/badges, bibs, etc. iii. A two colour container waste separation at source system shall be implemented by the service provider, providing a routine door-to-door service. One colour container (preferably black, but any colour other than blue) for non-recyclable material and the other container (blue) for mixed recyclable material. iv. Service providers shall offer the collection of recyclable materials at least once a week from every household as part of the door-to-door routine collection service. v. The service provider may indicate which recyclable materials must be separated out depending on the current market and use of the recyclable material. vi. The recycling container must be clearly identifiable, and in this case, the colour blue will be used to mark the containers. Only blue containers will be collected for recycling. vii. The service provider shall ensure that once recyclables are collected, the area is left clean and tidy. 8.1.2 Domestic - Routine Door-to-door service (a) Storage containers 11 P a g e

If containers are supplied by the service provider, the following standards apply: i. Containers must be adequate for the storage of waste and can include reusable 240l wheeled bins, and 85l bins, and 85l bin liners. The specifications of the containers must be in compliance with the SANS standards for bins (SANS 493:1973 - Steel refuse bins; SANS 1310:1980 - Refuse bins of polymeric materials; SANS 1494:1989 - Mobile refuse bins). ii. Reusable containers shall be: a. Rigid and durable; b. Corrosion resistant; c. Non-absorbent and watertight; d. Rodent-proof and easily cleanable; e. Equipped with a close-fitting cover; f. Suitable for handling with no sharp edges or other hazardous conditions; iii. If bin liners are used, the following specifications and requirements shall be utilised for the purposes of collection: a. Bin liners must be a minimum 30 micron thick and contain a blend of the maximum practicable recyclable content and virgin plastic (thickness is sufficient to prevent breakage, tearing or splitting upon collection, but should also not compromise the expected brittleness required by landfilling). b. Bin liners must be watertight and securely tied with an overall length of between 0.5 meters and 1 meter when empty. c. Bin liners may be in any other colour, except blue as this is the colour for containers which will be used exclusively for storage of recyclable waste. d. The weight of each bag, including contents, placed for recyclable materials collection must not exceed 12 kilograms. iv. As a minimum, the service provider can accept waste from any of the containers mentioned above as well as variations to these containers, provided the containers are durable, easy to handle and sealed. v. The service provider may only accept plastic shopping bags for collection of mixed waste from informal areas. vi. The maximum number of containers provided to and/or used by the waste generator and placed out for collection must be specified by the service provider. vii. The maximum number of containers put out for collection determined by the service provider, needs to be based on the principles of the waste hierarchy; prevention, minimisation, reduction, recycling and reuse of waste. The least amount of containers which will be adequate for a household s waste generation shall be regarded as the minimum standard. Any additional containers will be regarded as excessive waste and the generator must be dealt with through the provisions of the by-laws. 12 P a g e

viii. Access to the storage containers must be defined by the service providers, with the location specified as the kerbside (pavement). (b) Frequency of collection When service providers establish collection frequencies, account needs to be taken of generation rates, waste composition and storage capacity. i. The Service Provider shall provide, as a minimum standard, a once per week collection service (for households, dwellings and multi-dwelling complexes). ii. The service will be provided on a weekly cycle. iii. The minimum standard on the frequency of collection will have to increase if the following factors have been identified in an area: a. Storage space is limited due to high density living conditions b. Containers are filled with waste in a time period of less than 1 week c. Health of the community or residents is compromised by the accumulation of the waste (c) Collection service The following minimum standards shall apply for all routine door-to-door collection services: i. Collection of recyclable waste could undertaken by: a. A service provider, b. A separate recycling contractor, c. Formal kerbside salvagers ii. Recyclable waste containers shall be placed out on the same day of the residual waste collection. Recyclables not collected before the routine door-to-door residual waste collection shall be treated at residual waste. This is provided that the collection system used does not accommodate simultaneous collection of the two different waste streams. iii. During each collection operation, all waste placed out for collection shall be removed; iv. After emptying, each bin shall be returned to its designated place so as not to cause undue obstruction to pedestrian traffic; v. The service provider shall be responsible for immediately cleaning up all spillage caused by their operations. This will be done immediately by the vehicle crew responsible for the spillage; vi. The service provider shall not create undue noise in residential areas in and through which they operate; 13 P a g e

vii. Waste collection shall, under normal circumstances, not take place outside of the hours between 06:00 and 18:00. viii. For multi-dwelling complexes (townhouses, flats, clusters, etc.), containers brought to the specified communal collection area shall be collected by the service provider. Access to the storage areas must be ensured. ix. If bins are used by the complex residents, these shall be replaced, upright, where found. Containers shall be properly returned to enclosures where applicable. (d) Primary collection in high density areas (such as informal settlements) i. In extremely high-density areas, primary collection will best be carried out by manually carrying the bags of waste to dedicated secondary collection sites as per the definition. ii. Service providers should use equipment fit for use, such as trolleys, handcarts, donkey carts, etc., for the carting of waste to the secondary collection sites in less densely populated areas where greater distances would need to be covered. iii. The trolleys/carts must be designed and constructed to take account of the loads to be carried, and the conditions of the roads and tracks to be traversed. iv. Issues related to cleanliness, noise, spillage, etc. as indicated above, should be included within this specific service. v. Primary collectors must have suitable protective clothing for the task of waste collection and as minimum standard overalls, boots and gloves should be worn by collectors. 8.1.3 Domestic - Bulk container service (a) Storage containers i. Bulk containers used in this service, are more often used for the communal collection of waste from informal areas or areas which cannot be accessed by a waste collection vehicle. The Service Provider must make special arrangements to move waste to a point that is both accessible to the collection vehicle and where the stored waste will not create a nuisance. Containers which can be used require adequate volume to accommodate large amounts of waste coming from numerous households. These types of containers need to comply with the following minimum standards and must be: a. Rigid and durable, b. Corrosion resistant, c. Rodent-proof and easily cleanable, d. Easily accessible, e. Containers must be fitted with reflectors. 14 P a g e

ii. If underground storage systems are used by Service Providers all relevant specifications to ensure the adequate storage of waste and collection of waste has to be complied with. Prevention of the accumulation of water as well as the release of leachate has to be ensured. (b) Frequency of collection i. Service providers must empty the bulk containers or collect waste from the communal area within 24 hours of being deposited,. (c) Secondary Collection Service (at high density areas such as informal settlements) i. The service provider shall take cognisance of the NWMS guidelines for collection in high density unserviced areas regarding the provision of services to these areas. ii. Service providers must strategically position secondary collection sites to suit the maximum walking distance of the primary collector. iii. Secondary collection sites must be placed taking into account the distance of the nearest dwellings and how they will be affected by the containers, especially from a traffic (vehicle and pedestrian), accumulated waste, and nuisance factor point of view. These secondary sites should be identified for current and future planning of waste collection in the spatial development framework to ensure that there will always be provision of space (i.e. open land). iv. Secondary collection sites should be clearly demarcated, maintained and kept clean by the service provider. v. Where bulk containers are used for secondary collection sites, consideration must be given to ensuring that the primary collectors can easily deposit the waste into the containers. Where necessary, split-levels such as ramps must be provided. vi. All waste must be removed from the containers or the communal secondary collection point. vii. All containers must be cleaned on a regular basis to prevent disease and nuisance effects such as odours, flies and vectors. viii. The vehicles used in secondary collection must be suitable for the situation (load type, road conditions, etc.) and should adhere to the transport standards stated in Section 10. (d) Collection i. Provided special domestic waste cannot be collected as part of the routine door-to-door service, upon request from a household, and provided the service can be offered, the service provider can provide for the collection of bulky waste. 15 P a g e

ii. Waste shall be removed in such a way as to cause minimal disruption to the routine of the persons from whose premises the waste is being removed. iii. Care must be taken to minimise the risk of damage to the property of the customer. iv. The surrounding area must be left in a clean and tidy condition. v. All health and safety considerations must be adhered to. vi. All workers involved in collection must be adequately trained in the correct handling of waste storage infrastructure to enable them to use it safely and with minimal damage to the infrastructure. 8.1.4 Business/Industrial waste collection (small container and bulk collection) The waste included in this collection service includes business waste, non-hazardous industrial waste and building waste. The following minimum standards apply to the provision of this service. The service provider must obtain the following information from its customer to advise on the most appropriate service type: what type and size of container is required, the quantity of container needed for the waste generated, space provision which is made available for the container/s and accessibility of collection vehicles. (a) Storage Containers The service provider shall ensure that the container provided meets the following minimum standards: i. The container supplied for the service must be appropriate and adequate for the type of waste required to be collected (i.e. skip container for building waste). ii. The container must be a. Rigid and durable; b. Corrosion resistant; c. Rodent-proof and easily cleanable; and d. Must be capable of containing the material deposited within. e. Bulk containers must be fitted with a reflective strip. iii. All storage containers for putrescible waste shall be watertight, of galvanized metal or durable plastic construction and equipped with tight-fitting lids that restrict contact by animals, insects and weather and designed for safe handling. 16 P a g e

iv. Reusable waste containers which are emptied mechanically should be designed and equipped to prevent spillage or leakage during on-site storage, collection, or transport. The container should be easily cleanable and designed to allow easy access for depositing the waste and removing it by gravity or by mechanical means. v. Large containers shall have safety signage displayed on them and the name and telephone number of the owner of the container must be displayed. vi. A limit shall be placed on the number of smaller containers used by business/commercial entities that form part of the routine door-to-door service. The limit should be relative to the cost of providing the service and availability of alternative services. (b) Frequency of collection i. The frequency of collection shall be based upon the mutual agreement between the customer and the service provider. However, this shall not be less than once per week so as to prevent the accumulation of waste in quantities detrimental to public health or safety. However, an exception can be made in cases where the frequency can be determined by type and quantity, where a generator of small quantities of inert dry waste which does not pose a health, safety and environmental threat can safely be provided with a service not less than every two weeks. ii. Those business/commercial entities that form part of the routine door-to-door service shall be provided with a weekly service. iii. Where putrescible waste from hotels, restaurants and food shops are collected, frequency of collection shall at least every two days. This is however dependent on whether the containers storing the waste are locked overnight and are not accessible by the public and if this waste does not pose a health nuisance. If these criteria are not met, waste must be collected on a daily basis. iv. For non-routine (ad hoc) collection, the service is to be provided within 24 hours of the request, unless the waste is inert or does not pose a health and safety threat, the collection timeframe can be agreed between the Service Provider and customer. (c) Collection service i. Where appropriate, the Service Provider can request that the National Building Regulations be adhered to with regard to refuse collection. ii. Spillage during collection must be cleaned immediately. iii. Reusable containers shall be placed in their original positions, once waste has been collected. iv. The containers shall be easily accessible to the collection vehicle in an area which can safely accommodate the dimensions and the weight of the vehicle. 17 P a g e

v. Containers placed on pavements for building waste, must not have any part extending beyond the curb into the road and shall only be placed there for a period not exceeding 2 weeks. A business container may be placed within a premise for a temporary period of time not longer than one month when the placement is in relation to the construction or repair of a building or structure, provided the business container is removed as soon as the construction or repair ceases. Containers can be temporarily placed in the roadway where there is no adequate space on the premises or pavement. This should be done with the consent of the local authority and the container must be highly visible and marked with the contact details of the Service Provider. vi. Noise generation during collection activities must be minimal. vii. Service generally to be provided during normal working hours (07:00 to 18:00, weekdays), or reduced hours over weekends. viii. Waste loads collected must be signed off by the customer as proof of collection which can be used as a type of manifest document. ix. All workers involved in collection must be adequately trained in the correct handling of waste storage infrastructure to enable them to use it safely and with minimal damage to the infrastructure. (d) Separation at source collection i. The service provider shall ascertain from the customer what waste will be separated out and the types, number, and locations of containers will be identified. ii. The service provider shall ensure that the container provided to the customer is fit for purpose for the type of waste separated out. iii. Containers must meet the specifications listed in section 8.1.2 (a) i iv. Containers must be identifiable in terms of the recyclables stored in them. v. There must be easy access for unloading. vi. There must be provision for locking-up the containers after hours to avoid contamination. vii. Environmental and health and safety considerations as mentioned above need to be adhered to. viii. The frequency of collection will be determined by the agreement between the service provider and the customer, but it shall be at an adequate frequency, which takes into account safe and healthy working conditions (possibility of fires, etc.). (e) Collection of condemned food i. The requirements of the National Health Act, Act 61 of 2003 and the relevant municipal By-laws will apply in this regard. 18 P a g e

ii. Access to be restricted to authorised personnel only. iii. The Service Provider must ensure that adequate notice is provided to the disposal/treatment facility. iv. The condemned food waste must be transported in a closed vehicle. v. The Service Provider must supply a safe disposal certificate to the generator of the waste. vi. The term condemned food does not apply to infectious or contagious waste. The relevant national and provincial legislation dealing with these waste types need to be referred to. 8.1.5 Special events There are two types of special events; those that are pre-arranged and planned, and those that aren t. Pre-arranged events included concerts, exhibitions, trade events, political gatherings, sports events (cycle races, marathons, etc.), protest marches, etc., that would take place within the borders of Gauteng on public or government/municipal owned property. Non-arranged events include unauthorised protest marches for example. (a) Pre-arranged Events Adequate pre-notification of the event is required for the service provider to plan for the event, which would have to be stipulated by the service provider. The service provider must draw up a plan of action to service the event. The Service Provider shall provide the necessary storage and transport infrastructure and carry out the appropriate cleaning activity required by the event. The following will apply as a minimum standard to the collection and cleaning of the event: i. Source separation will be instituted and aided by the supply of a 2 bin/container system (waste station), one bin for recyclables and the other for wet waste/non-recyclables. All bins must be clearly labelled, showing what waste types are acceptable and what types are expressly prohibited. ii. Different colours to be used for the waste bin/container and recyclable waste bin/container for easy identification. iii. Bins with wheels such as 240l bins are more appropriate, as these are easy to move around. iv. Appropriate signage must be erected at each waste station indicating the separation of waste. v. Bins/containers must be user friendly and large enough to collect an adequate amount of waste to prevent waste from overflowing prior to collection. vi. Bins/containers will include lids or will be covered to prevent rain from entering. 19 P a g e

vii. The number of bins/containers provided must be adequate for the expected number of people attending the said event. viii. A dedicated container/s which includes a lid or cover must be provided for back-ofhouse areas where food and beverages are prepared. ix. The waste stations must be positioned near vendors, bathrooms, entrances and exits, and other identified sites that typically generate waste material. x. All areas where waste is collected from shall be left in a clean and tidy state. xi. All recyclable waste collected and transferred from the smaller bins/containers to the larger skips or bulk containers, shall be kept separate from any other wastes. xii. The area of the event shall be completely cleaned within 24 hours of completion of the event, according to the Cleaning Standards contained in Section 9, and the contained waste shall be removed within 48 hours. xiii. For events lasting more than one day, cleaning of areas will take place every day, at a predetermined time when the event is not in progress. Collected containerised waste will be collected every day. xiv. All cleaning staff should be identifiable and must have the required Personnel Protection Equipment (PPE) and tools for the cleaning job required. (b) Non Pre-arranged Events The Service Provider shall develop a plan of action for implementation of services for non pre-arranged special events, as soon as possible after being notified of the event. Once a non-pre-arranged event has been identified, where large crowds are expected, the Service Provider needs to determine the type of event taking place and if in any way there is a health and safety risk associated with the event which could impact the staff of the service provider. The plan of action to manage the waste generated and to clean up the waste after the event needs to be determined. The following minimum standards apply to this situation: i. The area of the event shall be completely cleaned within 3 days after completion of the event, according to the Cleaning Standards contained in Section 9. ii. The Service Provider must try and recover costs for the clean up from the organisers of the event. 8.2 Cleaning Standards The cleaning standards consider both street cleaning as in litter picking, etc., as well as the clearing of illegal dumping. 20 P a g e