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Some Randburg suburbs have gone more than two weeks without refuse collection. (X  Yamkeleka Manjeya
@manjeya_wendy)

Refuse collection uneven in Randburg as Pikitup and workers trade blame

Some Randburg suburbs have gone more than two weeks without refuse collection as Pikitup and striking casual workers trade blame over service disruptions at the Randburg depot

Good examples: In Midvaal, the library was teeming with locals who had access to free wifi and computers provided by the municipality. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy

In Midvaal, the evidence suggests the DA does govern better

Even the informal settlements have running water, uninterrupted electricity and their own toilets

Mess: Comparisons are often drawn between Midvaal and the badly run Emfuleni municipality next door. Photos: Delwyn Verasamy

For Emfuleni residents, life is a daily grind of service delivery failures

The ANC-run municipality refuses to accept blame, accusing some residents of paying for DStv, servicing clothing accounts and drinking expensive alcohol instead of paying their…

Informal waste pickers are responsible for processing more than 80% of South Africa’s recycled materials, which is an extraordinary contribution to the economy and environment. Photo: Mark Lewis

National emergency: The urban models turning waste into opportunity

An innovative project for informal waste pickers in Cape Town demonstrates how empowerment and a circular economy can make a difference

Local government are elected to provide services, but many struggle to do this. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy

Why a review of the White Paper on Local Government matters

The key assumption that municipalities would raise enough revenue to fund most of their operational expenditure needs to be revisited

Land fills in Africa, such as the Kiteezi landfill in Kampala, Uganda, are a growing threat. Photo; AFP

Fixing waste management starts with political will

Solutions exist, but need they need strong leadership, investment and integration into governance for clean, livable cities in Africa

Recycle rather than expand or build more landfills.

Ubuntu can help achieve the dream of zero landfill

Our waste-management sites are filling up fast, with serious health and environmental consequences

In a fix: Services in the capital Harare are stretched or broken. Transfers of funds from the national government are low and revenue collection by local government is curtailed. (Mustafa Kamaci/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Harare’s fiscal paradox: A devolved city starved of resources

By law, powers and functions are devolved to local government but the ruling Zanu-PF’s ideology is to control municipalities

Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero. (Lubabalo Lesolle/Gallo Images)

Joburg mayor hikes residential tariffs, backtracks on property tax increases

The ANC’s coalition partners demand changes, citing the financial burden on residents

Eskom and Sasol, which are considered two of the country’s biggest polluters, have been granted postponements, suspensions and/or alternative limits of the minimum emissions standards since 2015. (Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

UN special rapporteur: Toxic pollution in SA fuelled by corporate greed and government inaction 

Marcos Orellana noted the poor disposal of waste and hazardous substances, the wide use of pesticides and weak enforcement of regulations

South Africa’s landfill sites are in a terrible state and if drastic measures are not taken, the country will soon drown in its own waste. (Andy Mkosi)

Johannesburg’s landfills have less than three years of capacity left

Some are expected to reach capacity earlier because solid waste like garden debris and industrial rubble are taking up space

South Africa’s landfill sites are in a terrible state and if drastic measures are not taken, the country will soon drown in its own waste. (Andy Mkosi)

SA will soon ‘drown in its own waste’, warns landfill expert

But the environment department says it has interventions in place

Informal waste collection shouldn’t let plastic polluters off the hook

The image of plastic recycling as the solution to plastic pollution is perpetuated by statistics that highlight successes, which are communicated in tonnes and percentages that…

Between the fields of illegally dumped waste and a contaminated Kliprivier stream passing through the area is a greening project.

Eldorado Park garden brings hope and heals volunteers

Between the fields of illegally dumped waste and a contaminated Kliprivier stream passing through the area is a greening project

Greener pastures: Construction companies and households in Diepsloot, in the north of Johannesburg, that illegally dumped refuse created an opportunity for Nondumiso Sibiya to establish Boombadotmobi recycling company that includes composting. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy

Illegal dumping in Diepsloot gives rise to waste economy

Nondumiso Sibiya has found value in collecting refuse and working with waste pickers

Producers and importers of electronic goods will be legally responsible for end-of-life management of their products from 5 November.

New electronic waste management regulations will take effect in November

Producers and importers of electronic goods will be legally responsible for end-of-life management of their products from 5 November

Throwaway culture: Plastic, microplastic and other waste is littering the world’s oceans, harming life. (Xurxo Lobato/Getty Images)

New plan to tackle marine pollution

The environment department’s Source-to-Sea initiative will create 1 600 work opportunities

“Our municipalities have a crisis of poor financial management or planning to attract revenue, and they need to be capacitated there,” Amos Masondo said.

Calls for removal of unethical local government leaders at Salga conference

Ability must determine who gets hired, not jobs for pals or because of their political affiliation, says the head of the South African Local Government Association

In Kenya, waste is collected twice a week and taken to a resource recovery facility, where the high temperatures in solar concentrators sterilise the waste. It is then turned into charcoal briquettes that are used as fuel. (Fredrik Lerneryd)

How our urine and faeces can be used to fuel growth and create a cleaner environment

Recycling human waste not only cuts down on landfill use but can also give birth to economically viable products such as fertilisers and fuel

The first round of plastic treaty negotiations saw positive outcomes but oil producing countries, at the behest of big oil and petrochemical companies, could dominate the treaty discussions. (Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg/Getty Images)

Plastics industry needs policing

We must continue to hold manufacturers to account and push for better waste management