Responsible
Tourism - South Africa
Waste Management
What Is The Issue?
Tourism operations produce large quantities of solid waste, some of which is toxic. In many cases waste is collected in badly designed waste dumps, discarded into oceans or rivers or simply dumped in areas out of sight of guests. Improper waste disposal not only visually degrades the environment, but can lead to water and soil pollution through the leaching of contaminants from waste dumps. Uncontrolled disposal of toxic items such as paint cans and batteries can also severely contaminate water, air and soil, threatening the environment and human health.
New environmental legislation in South Africa will restrict further development of landfills, which means that tourism venues operating in remote areas will need to focus on separation of waste and its removal to centralized landfills for disposal.
Responsible waste management is not only about carefully planning the disposal of waste. It is also about reducing and recycling waste that is generated, ensuring that you take responsibility for your waste “from the cradle to the grave”.
Reduce, reuse, recycle
What Can You Do?
Set Targets
Monitor the relationship between the number of tourists and the amount of waste you produce (e.g. 1 full bin per bed night).
Set targets for reducing the amount of waste produced (e.g. reduce by 5% each year). Monitor reductions in the volumes of waste you produce.
Set targets for the recycling and reuse of waste.
Some Operational Tips:
Waste Reduction
Speak to food suppliers about reducing food packaging.
Buy in bulk and store goods in reusable containers.
Buy biodegradable products.
Use recycled, chlorine-free paper or paper from forests certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council.
Maintain a litter-free environment.
Waste Disposal
Have clearly labeled separate bins for wet waste, plastics, glass and tin to help recycling. Set up specialized bins for battery or printer cartridge recycling.
Compost food waste on site and use it to fertilize your grounds.
Ensure that waste oil is returned to your nearest supplier or disposed of in an environmentally friendly way.
Store, collect and dispose of hazardous waste safely and according to government regulations.
Recycling
Initiate recycling or buy-back programmes for glass bottles, cans, plastic and paper products. Approach manufacturers about collecting used products and encourage local SMMEs to make crafts out of tin or plastic waste.
Set up composting facilities for landscaping, community gardens or agriculture.
Did You Know?
For every ton of paper recycled, 17 trees are saved, with 40% less energy and 30% less water required.
Every ton of glass recycled saves 1.2 tons of raw material and 114 liters of oil energy.
To produce iron from ferrous scrap requires 74% less energy than to produce it from iron ore.
Who’s Doing It?
Sabi Sabi started separating and recycling its solid waste and removing it in partnership with Green’s Waste Nelspruit about 20 years ago. This initiative has grown into a community development project that runs a recycling depot for glass, tin and paper for all the lodges in the Sabi Sands.
Grootbos Nature Reserve has established a waste recycling depot and all waste is sorted into glass, paper, cardboard and cans. Over 90% of its glass bottles, paper and cardboard is recycled.
Holiday Inn Garden Court Milpark has developed its own recycling program. The hotel sorts waste into clear and coloured glass, plastics, paper and other waste, and sends it for recycling. Guests are also provided with separation bins. The program has halved the waste for landfill produced by Milpark.
The Nature Workshop is developing a ‘Waste Separation Program in the Mpumalanga and Limpopo Provinces, in conjunction with local communities from each region. All recycling revenues will accrue to the local communities.
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