MechChem Africa November-December 2022

⎪ Environmental management, waste and cleaning technologies ⎪

From factories to office blocks, mines to hospitals, waste minimisation through reduction, re-use and recycling is now an essential part of all business operations as South Africa moves towards a circular economy. EnviroServ Waste Management’s inte grated waste management approach and on-site wastemanagement services provide the support businesses need to introduce waste recycling. On-site waste manage ment is one element of an integrated waste management strategy, where a company’s waste needs are assessed and understood. People have always preferred to live in clean conditions and, as far back as 500 BC, there is evidence of laws in Greece indicat ing where garbage could be deposited. They realised that dumping waste and improper incineration of solid waste was putting pub lic health at risk and increasing pollution. “Fast forward to modern day and our disposal needs are no longer ash from people’s cooking fires and horse manure, but rather ever-increasing numbers of new kinds of wastes, which need to be sepa rated at source in order to see what can be recycled and what needs proper disposal,” says Ryan van Heerden, EnviroServ Waste Management’s National Manager for On site Services. By becoming part of the circu lar economy, companies reuse, recycle and responsibly remanufacture, which supports the development of new industries and jobs, reducing emissions and increasing efficient use of natural resources such as energy, water and materials. “In our drive to help customers join the circular economy, EnviroServ is constantly seeking alternative solutions to landfill for waste. Over the past year, EnviroServ helped divert over 100 000 tons of waste from landfill. EnviroServ uses specialised equipment work. “We partner with a local firm of professionals to conduct the EIAs, includ ing high-tech work such as air emissions modelling,” he says. “The recommendations from the EIAs are then incorporated into our designs.” Angolan municipalities also face a considerable challenge dealing with waste from residents and local businesses. SRK has therefore recently become involved in feasibility studies in this segment. “Cities such as Luanda have struggled for many years to manage the rapid urbanisa tion of the war years, when people flocked to cities for safety,” he said. “For instance, Luanda reportedly produces some 6 000 t of solid waste every day, and its infrastruc

ture was not developed to cope with such volumes.” The country continues to develop its waste management capacity with partner agencies. In 2019, the United Nations Envi ronmental Programme (UNEP) – t h r ou g h i t s Ch em i c a l s a nd Wa s t e Management Programme – launched an am bitious three-year project inAngola, focused on establishing a sustainable and integrated national structure to better manage chemi cals. The strategy has been coordinated by the Angola Ministry of Environment, through a National Chemicals Management Unit. This works towards implementation of the project, and ensures that Angola can

the recyclables recovered, and provides detailed reports that enable businesses to track volumes of waste recycled. EnviroServ manages complex logistics on behalf of its cl ients, offering tai lor made waste management services to assist South African companies with sustainable and compliant solutions. “We provide the necessary regulation compl iance whi le recovering value from the waste products. These services are aligned to EnviroServ’s values of looking after the environment and contributing to the circular economy by re using and refurbishing wherever possible, while helping corporate South Africa reduce its risks and environmental costs.” While South Africa has come a long way with recycling initiatives, there is still much work to be done, he says: “This is why we in creasingly seek out implementation-driven solutions to accommodate all types of waste streams, continuously refocusing our efforts on themove to a circular economy,” Ryan van Heerden concludes. q continue to manage chemicals and hazard ous wastes into the future. www.srk.co.za Angolan municipalities face a considerable challenge dealing with waste from residents and local businesses. (Image: Unsplash)

Divertingwaste from landfill with on-site solutions to separate waste from its packaging, both solid and liquid. The packaging is then sent for recycling and the organic liquids or solids go to a biogas facility. “This means both the contents and the packaging are diverted from landfill by implementing an on-site waste solution, which speaks to our goal to try and recycle as much as we can.”

Waste recycling operations through on site waste management creates jobs. “Our teams of expertly trained staff are based at customer premises to recover recyclable products such as plastic, paper, glass and cans. This means that through a one service provider, a business can be legally compliant, meeting all the needs of the safety, health and environmental authorities, while effec tively managing the waste being generated,” adds van Heerden. “We will help you maxi mise your recyclable volumes and minimise waste sent to landfill.” The programme of fers a solution that generates income from

EnviroServ teams of expertly trained staff are based at customer premises to recover recyclable products such as plastic, paper, glass and cans.

November-December 2022 • MechChem Africa ¦ 35