To reform the law regulating waste management in order to protect health and the environment by providing reasonable measures for the prevention of pollution and ecological degradation and for securing ecologically sustainable development; to provide for institutional arrangements and planning matters; to provide for national norms and standards for regulating the management of waste by all spheres of government; to provide for specific waste management measures; to provide for the licensing and control of waste management activities; to provide for the remediation of contaminated land; to provide for the national waste information system; to provide for compliance and enforcement; and to provide for matters connected therewith.

Latest Developments:

The National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008), has been updated with the Guideline and Toolkit for the Determination of Extended Producer Responsibility Fees, as per Notice No. 5535 of GG51534 dated 11 November 2024.

The National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008), has been updated with Amendments to Regulations 7 and 7A of the Regulations regarding Extended Producer Responsibility under Notice R.1184 of 2020, as per Notice No. 5520 of GG51513 dated 6 November 2024.

The National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008), has been updated with the Determination of the Licensing Authority for the Different Classes of Landfills, as per Notice No. 3968 of GG49511 dated 17 October 2023.

The National Environmental Management Laws Amendment Act, 2022 (No. 2 of 2022) has updated and made Amendments to:

National Environmental Management Act 1998

National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act 2003

National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act 2004

National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act 2004

National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act 2008

National Environmental Management: Waste Management Act 2008 - Effective 30 June 2023 (save for certain sections) per Proclamation 125 of GG48869 -

as per Notice No. 2203 of GG46602, dated 24 June 2022.

The National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008), has been updated with the Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme for the Portable Battery Sector, as per Notice No. 3179 of GG48283 dated 23 March 2023.

The National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008), has been updated with the Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme for the Lubricant Oil Sector, as per Notice No. 3178 of GG48282 dated 23 March 2023.

The National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008), has been updated with the Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme for the Pesticide Sector, as per Notice No. 3177 of GG48281 dated 23 March 2023.

The National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008), has been updated with a Notice of Extension of Reporting Period by Identified Producer Responsibility Organisations and Producers to the Extended Producer Responsibility Online System until 31 August 2022, as per Notice No. 2328 of GG47134 dated 29 July 2022.

The National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008), has been updated with the National Norms and Standards for the Treatment of Organic Waste, as per Notice No. 1984 of GG46169 dated 1 April 2022.

The National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008) has been updated by the publication of National Norms and Standards for Organic Waste Composting, 2020 – Date to be determined and published by Minister in the Gazette, as per Notice No 561 of GG44762 dated 25 June 2021.

The National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008) has been updated by the publication of Amendments to Regulations under N1184 and Notices 1185, 1186 and 1187 as per Notice No 400 of GG44539 dated 5 May 2021.

The National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008) has been updated by the publication of Amendments to the Regulations and Notices Regarding Extended producer responsibility, 2020,  as per Notice No 20 of GG44078 dated 15 January 2021.

The National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008) has been updated by Extending Producer Responsibility Scheme for Paper, Packaging and some Single Use Products as per Notice No 1187 of GG43882 dated 5 November 2020.

The National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008) has been updated by Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme for the Lighting Sector as per Notice No 1186 of GG43881 dated 5 November 2020.

The National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008) has been updated by Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme for Electrical and Electronic Sector as per Notice No 1185 of GG43880 dated 5 November 2020.

The National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008) has been updated by Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations, 2020 as per Notice No 1184 of GG43879 dated 5 November 2020.

The National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008) has been updated by , publishing a Notice indicating the exclusion of certain Waste Streams or portions of Waste Streams from the definition of Waste for beneficial use, as per Notice No. 85 of GG 42990, dated 3 February 2020.

The National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008) has been updated by Regulations, Regulations regarding the Control of the Import of Export of Waste, 2017 as per Notice No. 22 of GG42175 dated 21 January 2019.

The National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008) has been updated by Regulations, Waste Exclusion Regulations, 2018 as per Notice No. 715 of GG41777 dated 18 July 2018.

The National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008) has been amended by Amendment to the List of Waste Management Activities that have, or are likely to have, a Detrimental Effect on the Environment, Notice No. 1094, Government Gazette 41175, dated 11 October 2017.

The National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008) has been amended by National Norms and Standards for the Sorting, Shredding, Grinding, Crushing, Screening or Baling of General Waste, Notice No. 1093, Government Gazette 41175, dated 11 October 2017.

The National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008) has been amended by Waste Tyre Regulations, 2017, Notice No. 1064, Government Gazette 41157, dated 29 September 2017.

The National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008) has been amended by Regulations regarding the Planning and Management of Residue Stockpiles and Residue Deposits, Notice No. R. 632, Government Gazette 39020, dated 24 July 2015.

The National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008) has been amended by List of Waste Management Activities that have, or are likely to have, a detrimental effect on the Environment, Notice No. 921, Government Gazette 37083, dated 29 November 2013.

The National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008) has been amended by Government Gazette 32000, dated 10 March 2009 – Notice 278; New Act.