Assessment of the practice and potential of industrial solid waste minimisation : case study of Stellenbosch

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. === ENGLISH ABSTRACT: There is increasing pressure on factories and government to practise cleaner technology. The public is becoming more and more environmentally aware and external pressure from international competitors is also forcing companies to...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Semoli, Belemane Petrose
Other Authors: De Necker, P. H.
Format: Others
Language:en_ZA
Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2012
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/50281
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Summary:Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. === ENGLISH ABSTRACT: There is increasing pressure on factories and government to practise cleaner technology. The public is becoming more and more environmentally aware and external pressure from international competitors is also forcing companies to adopt environmentally sound production practices. Our natural resources and the environment need environmentally friendly practices. Waste minimisation is not only prudent practice for manufacturing industries, but is also an integral part of environmental regulations in many countries, including South Africa. This research seeks to investigate the extent and potential for industrial waste minimisation in Stellenbosch. The objectives of this thesis are, firstly to establish and evaluate the present range and extent of industrial solid waste minimisation practices; secondly to identify and evaluate potential industrial solid waste minimisation measures that could (if necessary) be instituted in future; and finally to propose a general strategy for the minimisation of industrial solid waste in Stellenbosch. The findings reflect that currently there is little waste minimisation awareness and practice in Stellenbosch. The most common method of waste minimisation currently practised by industries is recycling through the selling of recyclables. The least common method is the equipment-related change method, due to the high costs involved in adopting this method. Based on the findings, a suitable regional waste management strategy was developed and this strategy could possibly be adopted elsewhere in South Africa. Key words: waste minimisation, waste management, re-use, recycling, factory, environment, practice, participation, cleaner technology, awareness, Stellenbosch === AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar is toenemende druk op fabrieke sowel as op die regering om skoner tegnologie te beoefen. Die publiek raak ook toenemend meer omgewingsbewus en druk vanaf die kant van internasionale mededingers forseer maatskappye om praktyke in te stel wat gunstig is ten optigte van die omgewing. Ons natuurlike hulpbronne en die omgewing benodig omgewingsvriendelike vervaardigingspraktyke. Die beperking van afvalstowwe is nie net vir die fabriekswese 'n wyse praktyk nie, maar maak ook in vele lande, met inbegrip van Suid-Afrika, 'n integrale deel uit van regulasies met betrekking tot die omgewing. Hierdie navorsingsprojek poog om die omvang en potensiaal van beperking van afvalstowwe in Stellenbosch te ondersoek. Die doelwitte van die ondersoek is eertens om ondersoek in te stel na die huidige reikwydte en omvang van praktyke om vaste industriële afvalstowwe te beperk en dit te evalueer; tweedens om potensiële industriële vaste afvalstofbeperkingsmaatreëls wat, indien nodig, in die toekoms ingestel sou kon word, te indentifiseer en te evalueer; en dan uiteindelik 'n algemene strategie vir die beperking van vaste industriële afvalstowwe in Stellenbosch voor te stel. Die bevindings in hierdie tesis bewys dat daar tans gennge bewustheid van die noodaaklikheid van afvalstofbeperking in Stellenbosch is en dat dit ewe min in die praktyk toegepas word. Die mees algemene vorm van beperking van afvalstowwe in die fabriekswese is deur middel van verkoop van herwinbare afvalstowwe. Die mins algemene vorm van beperking van afvalstowwe hou verband met die vervanging van toerusting. Die rede hiervoor het te doen met die koste verbonde aan die strategie. Vanuit hierdie bevindings is toepaslike strategie vir die bestuur van afvalstowwe op streeksvlak ontwikkel. Hierdie strategie sou moontlik ook elders in Suid-Afrika toegepas kon word. Sleutelwoorde: beperking van afvalstowwe, afvalstofbestuur, hergebruik, herwinning, fabriek, omgewing, praktyk, deelname, skoner tegnologie, bewustheid, Stellenbosch