Tough legislation boosts the South African hazardous waste management market

The South African hazardous waste management market is experiencing rapid growth due to tightening legislation related to waste collection, transportation and disposal. Environmental inspectors have been pressuring waste generating companies to improve their environmental impact management programs, opening up opportunities for waste management companies.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, The South African Hazardous Waste Management Market, finds that the market reached a peak growth rate of 14.5 percent in 2008; however, due to the economic slowdown, growth in this market is expected to decline to around 11 percent in 2009.

“The recent tightening of environmental legislation by environmental inspectors has been a major driver for the rapid increase in volumes of hazardous waste emanating from various industries,” said Frost & Sullivan research analyst Derrick Chikanga.

Previously, a mere 4.8 percent of the total hazardous waste material generated in South Africa found its way to hazardous landfill sites. However, in 2008, some of the major hazardous waste management companies received record tonnages, with some treating and disposing of 58 percent more hazardous waste than in 2007.

The power generation industry is becoming a greater source of waste material as Eskom Holdings, South Africa’s power utility, has embarked on an expansion drive to increase generation capacity. During this process, large volumes of hazardous waste material are likely to be generated from scrubbed-off gasses.

The market segments covered in this research are mining, power generation and industrial and metals finishing. The technologies covered are biological treatment equipment, physico-chemical treatment equipment and thermal treatment equipment.