About Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
Section 18 and EPR: What you need to know
What is Section 18 and EPR?
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a waste management strategy for the sustainable organisation and financing of specific waste streams. In South Africa, EPR used to be voluntary, but since the Section 18 regulations of the National Environmental Management: Waste Act (NEMWA) came into effect in 2021, it has become mandatory. Producers are required to take full responsibility for the products they place onto the market, including their post-consumer collection, sorting and recycling.
Essentially, EPR schemes tie producers into financing and organising management systems for packaging waste. Implementing an EPR system enhances the interactions between stakeholders, assigning new responsibilities to each. The Section 18 regulations provide the framework for the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of EPR schemes by producers. The system allows companies to engage with the issue of waste on a level playing field, because it is based on shared responsibility. Companies that decide to play an active role in the system from the outset can influence how the system operates and contribute to the goal of EPR, which is to achieve a circular economy and address waste management issues.
The Section 18 regulations provide the framework for the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of EPR schemes by producers.
More about NEMWA and the National Waste Management Strategy
The National Environmental Management: Waste Act (NEMWA) of 2008 provides a comprehensive framework for the management of waste. It emphasises waste minimisation, recycling and the responsible disposal of waste to protect public health and the environment.
NEMWA establishes a system of waste management plans, licencing requirements for waste activities, and the establishment of the Waste Management Bureau to coordinate and regulate waste-related matters at both national and provincial levels. The Act encourages the implementation of EPR programmes to hold producers accountable for the waste generated from their products. Overall, NEMWA seeks to achieve sustainable waste management practices and promote a circular economy in South Africa.
The National Waste Management Strategy (NWMS) is a legislative requirement of NEMWA, and its goal is to provide a comprehensive and integrated framework for the management of waste in the country.