The Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA), in conjunction with the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs, is calling on all waste management organisations in KZN to enter its annual Waste Management Awards.

The purpose of the competition is to involve all organisations in the province that are efficiently and effectively managing their waste.

KZN IWMSA regional chairperson Pat Reddy says that through this competition, the organisation aims to promote best practices in waste management throughout the province. “We want to acknowledge the achievements of waste management organisations, and provide recognition to those organisations that are practising, and are committed to, effective waste management.”

The biannual competition primarily takes place in KZN. The Eastern Cape started a similar awards ceremony last year. The hope is that the awards will become a national event.

However, the response to the call for entries has been ‘mild’.

“We normally have 20 companies enter- ing the awards, but we really want more companies to become a part of the initia- tive to recognise their efforts in reducing waste,” IWMSA awards manager Angie Cockburn tells Engineering News.

She explains that the problem is a result of companies’ reluctance to enter, as they are ill informed about the goal of the awards.

“Companies are concerned that we are using the awards as a means to audit them; however, this perception is completely wrong and not the point. The awards [initiative] has been created to assist those who need it to put them on the right track,” she continues.

She notes that there are a multitude of ideas available, created by companies, which can be shared and taught.

The competition is open to organisations of any size in KZN that seek to manage waste in a controlled manner to minimise environmental impacts. Entries need to reach the KZN IWMSA branch before the end of June.

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