Environmental News

R450m Soweto water project launched

8th September 2003 A R450-million Soweto water-infrastructure project was launched by Johannesburg mayor Amos Masondo at the weekend. →

New voice added to plastic-bag debate

By: Martin Zhuwakinyu 5th September 2003 In the latest contribution to the ongoing debate regarding the government’s plastic-bag policy, a top official at the Association of Plastics Manufacturers in Europe (APME) has said that littering – which prompted the ban on the free issuance of thin bags by retailers – is a... →

Paper recycling surges

By: zeena isaacs 29th August 2003 The amount of waste paper and cardboard recycled in South Africa has increased by 60% in the last ten years, with the overall recovery rate of paper currently at 52%, says Mondi national sales and marketing manager Peter Hunter. →

Kimberley operation implements a new water conservation method

By: zeena isaacs 29th August 2003 Diamond-mining company De Beers has implemented a new water conservation system at its Combined Treatment Plant (CTP) in Kimberley, Northern Cape, which is based on the paste and thickened tailings disposal (P&TTD) concept. →

Pilot waste-management project launched at a Gauteng hospital

By: zeena isaacs 29th August 2003 A waste-management pilot project has been implemented at the Leratong hospital, in Gauteng, by the provincial departments of Health, Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Land Affairs in February. →

Can collector has so far paid out R270-million

By: zeena isaacs 29th August 2003 Since its inception ten years ago, beverage can recovery company Collect-a-can has paid more than R270-million to can collectors, with more than 530 000 t of used steel beverage cans and 400 000 t of tin-bearing scrap recovered and recycled. →

Gauteng is responsible for 42% of SA’s waste

By: zeena isaacs 29th August 2003 It is estimated that about 2 000 t of household waste is generated in Johannesburg a day, with Cape Town and Durban close to producing the same amount each. →

Plastic bag recycling company reports 80 t/m production decrease

By: zeena isaacs 29th August 2003 Cape Town company Atlantic Plastic Recycling has recorded a decrease in business of 80 t a month as a direct result of the plastic bag legislation implemented in May. →

Johannesburg faces problem of illegal dumping

By: zeena isaacs 29th August 2003 Waste-management utility Pikitup Johannesburg is spending about R150-million a year on picking up illegally-dumped waste in the city – money which could be used for other purposes, Pikitup environmental management GM Les Venter tells Engineering News. →

New treatment facilities for waste manager

By: zeena isaacs 29th August 2003 Construction of a hazardous-waste leachate treatment plant is scheduled to begin at waste management company EnviroServ’s Holfontein landfill site, in Gauteng, in early September. →

Wastewater membrane means no more money down the drain

By: Karel Smrcka 29th August 2003 The constituents of some effluents can also be valuable and, if not properly treated, wastewater can literally throw money down the drain. →

Waste recovery emerging as big business

By: Deborah Spicer 29th August 2003 Waste company Enviroserv believes that between a third and a quarter of its revenue could come from its process-management division in three to five years, CEO Des Gordon reported at the company’s yearly results this month. →

Sanitation struggle continues

By: Zonika Botha 29th August 2003 It is something that most people take for granted, yet worldwide there are a staggering 2,4-billion people who do not have access to adequate sanitation. →

EnviroServ reports rise in earnings

By: Martin Czernowalow 20th August 2003 South African waste management group EnviroServ yesterday announced that its revenue, for the year ended June 30, increased by 13%, to R426,1-million, and headline earnings per share improved by 17%, to 35,7 cents per share. →

R150m water-treatment project proposed

By: nkolola halwindi 15th August 2003 Due to an increase in housing development, there is a need to increase capacity in wastewater treatment, observes East Rand Water Care Company (Erwat) development executive manager Koos Wilken. →

Joburg water utility in sewer maintenance drive

8th August 2003 Water and sanitation service provider for the Johannesburg, Johannesburg Water, increased its capacity on preventative sewer maintenance through commissioning into operation of three custom designed hydro jetting vacuum tankers. →

Building the renaissance

By: Irma Venter 9th June 2003 Forget Africa’s Big Five. The continent is looking for Africa’s Big Fifteen. Fifteen – or more – projects that will kickstart development. →

Building the Renaissance

By: Irma Venter 6th June 2003 Forget Africa’s Big Five. The continent is looking for Africa’s Big Fifteen. Fifteen – or more – projects that will kickstart development. →

Rural councils struggle with free water provision

5th June 2003 The South African Local Government Association (Salga) says around 50 municipalities in mostly rural communities are still battling to implement the free basic water policy. →

Making government keep its waste-management promises

By: katharine mckenzie 23rd May 2003 The successful implementation of government regulations regarding plastic bags proves again that the law is a powerful implement in effecting behaviour change. →

Company calls for increased concrete recycling

By: candice haase 23rd May 2003 In the wake of the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg last year, South African companies are beginning to take into consideration the fact that certain natural resources are non-renewable. →

R44m coater plant for Cape paper mill

By: Zonika Botha 23rd May 2003 South African paper and pulp giant Sappi is installing a R44-million coater plant at its Cape Kraft Mill to add value to the operation’s current product portfolio. →

New plastic bag standard published by SABS

9th May 2003 The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) this week announced its involvement in a new technical regulation, pertaining to the new standard for plastic bags in the country, which has been issued by the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. →

Access-card recycling a cost saver

By: Keith Campbell 2nd May 2003 GIANT South African integrated oil, gas and chemical company Sasol is saving millions because of a successful innovation by a small South African company – recycleable access control cards. →

Plastic-bag recycler expands ahead of law change

By: Joanne Delaurentis 2nd May 2003 Mpumalanga recycler Transpaco Recycling, based in Bronkhorstspruit, will be expanding its plastic carrier-bag, refuse bag, and plastic container recycling facility, ahead of an expected increase in demand for these recycled products. →

Epoxy product allows flooring company to expand its reach

By: candice haase 18th April 2003 While the African division of an international flooring company has traditionally focused its activity on the industrial sector, a product, launched locally in January, will enable the company to venture into other more aesthetically orientated sectors. →

New charcoal technologies and uses

By: Karel Smrcka 11th April 2003 Japanese researchers of late pay increased attention to manufacturing and uses of charcoal in an unusual way. Here are some of their achievements. →

State urges firms to recycle plastic

4th April 2003 Companies responsible for the production of plastic bags have been told to play by the rules to protect the environment or face stiff penalties. →

Big textile investment push into Lesotho

By: Zonika Botha 28th March 2003 Lesotho’s textile industry is one of the most lucrative business sectors in that African country, according to Andrew Gibbs, research intern at the University of Natal’s Centre for Civil Society. →

Company clinches contract at two waste incinerators

By: candice haase 21st March 2003 Stringent emission control legislation has forced a number of companies engaged in incineration activities to reduce the emissions from their facilities. →

SA’s waste to wealth potential

By: katharine mckenzie 21st February 2003 Why are we so bad at recycling? Every year South Africans are generating more and more waste, set to increase exponentially as economic growth increases and people consume more resulting in more to dispose of. →

Partner sought for phonecard recycling bins innovation

By: Deborah Spicer 21st February 2003 Innovator Yogan Naidoo is searching for a partner to develop his idea of the public phonecard recycling bin, having registered his patent in January. →

Waste management firm reports rise in earnings

12th February 2003 Waste management group EnviroServ yesterday announced its financial results for the six months ended December 31, 2002. →

New pollution-control system for waterworks

By: Zonika Botha 7th February 2003 Durban-based company FP Engineering has installed a revolutionary new pollution-control system valued at R5-million for Metro Water at the Kwamashu Waste Water Treatment plant in Kwazulu-Natal. →

SA involvement in Jordan lining project

By: Deborah Spicer 22nd November 2002 Johannesburg company Knight Pi →

Waste companies in an empowerment deal

By: Joanne Delaurentis 15th November 2002 Black owned waste management company Boitumelong Waste Services, has formed a 50/50 joint venture (JV) partnership with Otto Industries South Africa, to form Otto Waste Systems. →

EIA for R200m waste facility released

By: marisa rodrigues 8th November 2002 The environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the integrated waste management facility proposed by local company Amandla Environmental, which could be built at Springs or Germiston on the East Rand, has been released for public comment until early December. →