NEWS ROUND-UP
SUSTAINABILITY NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD Aluminium among the materials most recycled The International Aluminium Institute (IAI) has released global aluminium recycling data. According to figures from the IAI, recycling just one aluminium can conserves enough energy to recharge up to 20 mobile phones, while global aluminium recycling saves enough energy every year to power the whole of France. Commenting on the recycling data, Marlen Bertram, director: Product Stewardship at the IAI, said: “Aluminium is one of the most recycled materials on earth. Today, the global recycling efficiency
rate is 76%. High recycling rates in all regions underline the economic and environmental value of aluminium scrap.” According to the IAI, every year, more than 30 million tonnes of aluminium scrap is recycled globally, ensuring its status as one of the most recycled materials on the planet. Aluminium can be remelted and reused without any impact on its unique properties. This means that aluminium products can be recycled repeatedly. Almost 75% of the 1.5 billion tonnes of aluminium ever produced is still in use today.
How Covid-19 impacted the waste sector and its workforce Businesses across the globe were forced to re-evaluate their approach to cleaning and hygiene regimes, especially their waste management protocols, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. These changes will undoubtedly continue through 2021. One of the most interesting developments in major companies was the approach to including their new cleaning and waste management protocols into their communication strategies and incorporating these into their brand messaging. Waste generators also have legal responsibility, according to the National Environmental Management: Waste Act (No. 59 of 2008), to take all appropriate steps to manage waste. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, there were standard health and safety policies and protocols in place, but these were simply not enough. Specific measures were implemented, including the revision of and training on stricter waste handling procedures, ensuring consistent supply of PPE, clocking stations upgraded to no-touch facial recognition biometrics, temperature testing, and self-declarations (including co-morbidities) of all people who enter the sites. “To ensure the health and safety of everyone within the waste management value chain – as well as of the population at large – companies should contract providers with the expertise and compliance to safely manage waste while limiting harm to their employees,” says Brindha Roberts, head: Sustainability at Averda.
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Waste management companies urged to help limit landfill fires Fires at landfill sites happen more often than one would expect. There are several contributing factors that can lead to fires; however, whether as a result of arson or the exposure of materials on-site, the huge potential impact can largely be avoided with the implementation of adequate preventative measures. The effects of incorrectly handled fires are not limited to health and the environment but impact on society and business too. In some cases, nearby highways, schools and businesses have had to close. But on an effectively managed landfill, a fire will be controlled quickly, and limited damage suffered. There are clear regulations in place that determine the preventative measures that have to be in place – especially when it comes to the potential danger of landfill fires. A well-run site will ensure that daily cover-up is done, to ensure that no refuse is left exposed to the elements and to the potential risk of fire or combustion. Sites should also have trained firefighters as part of their teams to ensure a quick, on-site response. “My recommendation is for everyone to become familiar with these regulations. If you are sending any waste to a landfill site, make sure the site is properly managed and regularly audited. We all have a part to play in preventing landfill fires,” says Reg Gerber, national landfill manager at Averda’s Vlakfontein site.
