Waste Management: Draft Five-Year Strategy Gazetted for Comment

Posted 19 December 2025 Written by Acts Online
Category Environmental Law

Brought to you by SA Legal Academy: The Department of Forestry, Fisheries & the Environment has published a draft national five-year waste management strategy for public comment, proposing the addition of six new waste streams and a 40% landfill diversion target.

In terms of the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, No. 59 of 2008, the draft strategy is intended to replace the 2020 iteration. The overarching regulatory objective is the prevention of waste and the phased diversion of remaining waste from landfills, beginning with a 40% reduction target over the next five years. This framework is underpinned by the government’s commitment to the circular economy and the financial sustainability of waste services.

The draft strategy introduces several key shifts in waste management policy, including:

  • The addition of six new waste streams to those currently listed under existing regulations;
  • A focus on ensuring all communities have access to well-managed waste services;
  • The implementation of mechanisms to facilitate waste prevention at source; and
  • The integration of circular economy principles into municipal and industrial waste management.

Stakeholders and interested parties have until 6 March 2026 to submit written comments on the draft. The 60-day commentary period specifically excludes the festive season break between 15 December 2025 and 5 January 2026.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: No direct individual obligations; impact is primarily channelled through firm-level compliance and professional advisory services for environmental law practitioners.
  • For your business: Environmental consultancy and legal firms should review the expanded list of six waste streams to identify new compliance, auditing, and reporting requirements that will affect future service offerings.
  • For your clients: Industrial and manufacturing clients must prepare for more stringent waste diversion targets (40% over five years) and assess whether their current waste outputs fall under the newly proposed waste streams, which may necessitate revised waste management plans.

Originally published at https://legalacademy.co.za/news/read/waste-management-draft-strategy-gazetted-for-comment

The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Acts Online. Acts Online accepts no responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the article, nor does the information contained herein constitute advice, legal or otherwise.