Waste conference will unpack new legislation

"At WasteCon2010, we hope to shed some light on what the implications are on organisations with regards to these new standards," says Stan Jewaskiewitz, president of the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA), hosts of the biennial waste management conference.

"The implications of these standards will have a major impact on organisations," says Dr. Suzan Oelofse, chair of the institute's central branch. "As these standards are being drafted as regulations, it has legal standing as opposed to the Minimum Requirements documents that were only guidelines. All landfills including sites without permits will be subject to these standards. This will have huge compliance implications, as the containment barriers are also significantly different to what was previously included.

Significantly different

"The classification system for waste is also significantly different. All waste streams, except those that are pre-classified in the regulations, have to be re-classified using the new system within 18 months of the effective date of the regulations. The most significant change is that analysis of both total concentration and leachable concentration are required. The onus for classification of the waste rests with the waste generator. These new regulations will have financial implications to all waste generators and operations managers,"

The conference will take place at Emperors Palace Convention Centre from 4-8 October 2010, focusing on the theme: "What is your Waste Footprint"

For more information and to register go to www.wastecon2010.co.za, telephone +27 (0) 11-675-3462 or email ten.asmoklet@asmwi.