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Environmental Protection

Waste management, recycling needed for sustainability

29th November 2019 Waste management and recycling practices play an important role in South Africa’s sustainability drive. With the conservation of resources being the responsibility of all governments, South Africa introduced the Carbon Tax Act with the aim of reducing carbon emissions by 34% by 2020 and 42% by 2025. →

Company launches first plastics research centre

By: Halima Frost 29th November 2019 Specialist chemicals company Clariant last month announced the inception of its EcoCircle centre of excellence, based on its plan to offer significant support to reduce, reuse and recycle. The first such centre will be based at Clariant’s Masterbatches Business Unit in Pogliano, Italy, and aims... →

BACK TO GREEN The EcoCircle center of excellence brings with it support of the reduce, reuse and recycle concept

Innovation key in reducing sector impact on environment

29th November 2019 The energy and electrical sectors should be at the forefront of innovation to reduce its impact on the environment, says diversified power management company Eaton South Africa’s Energy Saver System business development manager Marcel Buckner. “This at a time when the world’s focus is... →

GOOD GAS The Xiria switchgear system does not use harmful sulphur hexafluoride gases

Mortar saves energy, costs

By: Halima Frost 29th November 2019 With a constrained power grid and the ever-increasing cost of energy, the sustainability features of Pratliperl translate into significant growth opportunities in South Africa, says industrial products and adhesives manufacturer Pratley’s marketing director Eldon Kruger. Pratliperl is derived... →

TOO HOT TO HANDLE The Pratliperl coating offers thermal insulation with subsequent energy-saving and environmental benefits

Research grant awarded at environment conference

By: Halima Frost 29th November 2019 Stellenbosch University research fellow Dr Hayley Clements was announced as the recipient of the inaugural Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer Research Grant last month at the tenth Oppenheimer Research Conference held in Midrand, Gauteng. The research grant was set up to honour the late Jennifer Ward... →

SHELL SHOCKED
The African Pangolin is poached more than any other animal in Africa and is on the brink of extinction

Oppenheimer Generations research head Dr Duncan MacFadyen discusses the Oppenheimer Research Conference and the recipient of the Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer Research Grant

Water-treatment technology launched in Amsterdam

By: Halima Frost 29th November 2019 Earlier this month, flow control, filtration and environmental technology supplier Flowrox launched its Flowrox Corona non-thermal plasma water-treatment technology at the Aquatech expo, in the Netherlands. The Flowrox Corona was selected as one of the finalists for the Aquatech Innovation Award... →

PURI-FECT The Flowrox Corona uses cold plasma technology to purify wastewater before being reintroduced into the environment

Court sets aside decision permitting mining in protected area

By: Jessica Oosthuizen 30th November 2018 The North Gauteng High Court earlier this month set aside a 2016 decision of former Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane and late Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa that permitted a new coal mine to be developed in the Mabola protected environment, in Mpumalanga. Under the... →

CHRISTINE REDDELL The Centre for Environmental Rights has been continuously campaigning for administrative penalties to be introduced as part of South African environmental law

Alignment of solutions needed for water security

By: Jessica Oosthuizen 30th November 2018 Nature-based and engineering solutions should be aligned and the value of ecological infrastructure must be recognised for water security, says South African National Biodiversity Institute (Sanbi) ecological infrastructure director Mahlodi Tau. In May, Sanbi launched a R90-milllion Ecological... →

COMBINING INFRASTRUCTURE The R90-million water security project seeks to illustrate the complementarity and the support that ecological infrastructure offers built infrastructure

Circular economy presents opportunities for Africa

By: Jessica Oosthuizen 30th November 2018 The circular economy, as a reformative system, presents significant opportunities for Africa to deliver on more inclusive economic growth, which includes job opportunities and the positive environmental practices that are in dire need for sustainable growth, says waste management company... →

Photo by Creamer Media
GROWING SECTOR The waste picker sector is growing and plays a key role in South Africa’s recycling strategy

Company opens new energy and resource recovery facility

30th November 2018 Waste management service provider Oricol Environmental Services earlier this month opened its new resource recovery facility in Cato Ridge, KwaZulu-Natal. The facility has been certified to the international standard ISO 14001:2015. It specifies the requirements for an environmental management... →

RECOVERY FACILITY The Cato Ridge facility is permitted to process hazardous solids, liquids and sludges, which includes solvents, oils and oils sludges, paint sludges, solids, acids and bases

Focus on environmental services boosts project sustainability

By: Simone Liedtke 1st December 2017 Applying focused environmental services at every phase of any project ensures that opportunities to incorporate social and environmental aspects into the engineering design are flagged, which boosts the overall sustainability of the project, explains consulting engineering and project... →

SUSTAINABILITY REQUIREMENTS Sustainability requires the optimisation of environmental, social and economic outcomes

General public taking heed of environmental law

By: Simone Liedtke 1st December 2017 The general public is becoming more familiar with the tools that are available under the Constitution and environmental law to protect what is perceived as the unacceptable environmental or social impacts of businesses, says law firm Norton Rose Fulbright environment lawyer Matthew Thornton-Dibb. →

MATURED LEGISLATION South Africa’s environment regulatory system has matured since the publication of the National Environmental Management Act

Green consciousness continues to drive green building trends

By: Simone Liedtke 1st December 2017 Increasing pressure on the built environment to address inadequate energy resources, carbon reduction targets and tightening building energy efficiency standards, continues to drive green building trends in South Africa, states multidisciplinary engineering consultancy WSP Africa sustainability... →

GREG RICE Businesses and citizens have recently become more conscious of the importance of resilience and resource scarcity

Growing eWaste could affect ecosystem

By: Simone Liedtke 1st December 2017 Electronic Waste (eWaste), if not properly processed, will eventually leach hazardous material – mainly heavy metals – into the water table, states computer support and services provider Xperien CEO Wale Arewa. →

WALE AREWA The global estimate of eWaste is about 50-million tons

Municipalities to reduce emissions by diverting waste

By: Simone Liedtke 1st December 2017 Consulting engineering company JG Afrika and international specialist waste consultancy RWA have developed a strategy to help South African municipalities reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by diverting biodegradable waste from their landfills. →

WASTE-DIVERSION STRATEGY The strategy entails waste disposal and the beneficial use for business development

Buhle Waste

1st December 2017 Waste management company Buhle Waste is a second-generation, family-run business that is 100% black owned and managed. “We strive to achieve excellence in all of our business activities in the communities in which we operate. As such, we aim to uphold the concept of ubuntu, knowing that it takes... →

Green cleaning products can pack a punch

By: Simone Liedtke 1st December 2017 Midrand-based cleaning solutions provider Blendwell Chemicals has completed the development of the company’s Enviro Waterless Car Wash, and is aiming to officially launch the product early next year. →

JUDY SUNASKY Companies are constantly developing products, but consumers are still hesitant to use green cleaning products

Large companies driving increase in land contamination assessments

By: Simone Liedtke 1st December 2017 With there being an increase in land-contamination assessments among large companies owing to recently promulgated environmental legislation, sustainability services and consultancy Environmental Resources Management (ERM) partner Steve McKeown says this will hold companies accountable for the... →

STEVE MCKEOWN Companies that have a global footprint are more committed to assessing their impact on the environment

Company promotes ecofriendly production processes

By: Sascha Solomons 25th November 2016 As a means of protecting the environment, nonwoven geotextile manufacturer Fibertex uses chemical-binder-free products and production processes to manufacture Fibertex geotextiles, which are made of virgin polypropylene (PP) material. Fibertex South Africa CEO Clive Hitchcock comments that virgin... →

CLIVE HITCHCOCK Nonwoven geotextiles play an important role in diverse sectors

Exclusive rights for wastewater treatment acquired

By: Sascha Solomons 25th November 2016 Angolan oil and gas services company Friburge has acquired the exclusive rights to provide waste treatment solutions using wastewater treatment company Nature Oil and Gas’s technology in sub-Saharan Africa. The waste treatment solutions are on-board solutions to treat wastewater, or slops,... →

WASTE MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS Friburge provides waste treatment solutions that are on board and can be flushed regularly with water or chemical to clean them of debris and built-up residue

Ecofriendly innovations in on-site wastewater treatment simplified

By: Sascha Solomons 25th November 2016 Using technology in sustainable wastewater treatment combined with the creation of its own bacterial strains developed in-house, South Africa-based biological wastewater treatment solutions provider SewTreat can respond to the demand for water management across sectors. SewTreat spokesman Theunis... →

WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES SewTreat offers a specialised, modular biological wastewater treatment plant tailor-made for the African market

Noise pollution overlooked in company environmental policies

By: Sascha Solomons 25th November 2016 Although noise pollution has been described as the next ‘green’ barrier to overcome, flooring solutions provider KBAC Flooring says noise pollution is often overlooked in corporate environmental policies. For instance, KBAC Flooring sales director Brandon Park points out that selecting the... →

BRANDON PARKS Property developers, designers and architects have a crucial role to play in providing inspirational working environments for employees

Company supports plastic waste management

By: Sascha Solomons 25th November 2016 As part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR), plastic pipes manufacturer DPI Plastics will sponsor the inaugural African Marine Waste Network (AMWN) conference next year. The AMWN was launched in July this year by the Sustainable Seas Trust (SST), plastics industry representative... →

Plastics SA sustainability director Douw Steyn and DPI Plastics technical and product manager Renier Snyman discuss the importance of environmental and waste management, as well as the plastics industry’s contribution to environmental protection. Camerawork: Nicholas Boyd. Editing: Lionel da Silva

Alternative technology converts waste into energy source

By: Kimberley Smuts 30th October 2015 Waste management solutions provider Interwaste – a member of the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa – is currently focusing on opportunities that allow for waste to be converted into energy. Interwaste group sales director Jason McNeil tells Engineering News that there is an ongoing... →

MUNICIPAL WASTE CONVERTED
Waste management solutions provider Interwaste is currently focusing on opportunities that allow for waste to be converted into energy

Photo by Bloomberg
MUNICIPAL WASTE CONVERTED Waste management solutions provider Interwaste is currently focusing on opportunities that allow for waste to be converted into energy

Company highlights air quality management regulations and changes

By: Kimberley Smuts 30th October 2015 To ensure that it delivers its services with a focus on quality, experience and competency in an ever-changing professional and regulatory environment, environmental management company I-Cat Environmental Solutions’ environmental management division attended an environmental law update workshop,... →

RACHELLE STOFBERG I-Cat is committed to assisting clients with their air emissions reporting

City of Johannesburg recognises green entrepreneurs

By: Kimberley Smuts 30th October 2015 The winners of the R5-million Green City Startup Challenge was announced during an awards ceremony last month by Economic Development MMC Counsellor Ruby Mathang. In partnership with the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and the UJ-owned training, research and development ecosystem, Resolution... →

GREEN CITY START UP WINNERS Geza Jozi representative Gabriel Ally, WHC CEO Paseka Lesolang, Baoberry representative Yolandi Schoeman and PowerOptimal CEO Sean Moolman

Solution being trialled to fight dwindling bee population

30th October 2015 International digital security company Gemalto notes that the global bee population is declining significantly and is under new pressure from disease. With this in mind, the company highlights an innovative technology-based solution called Mite Not, which could provide a new source of hope for... →

Photo by Bloomberg
PLUMMETING POPULATION The global bee population is declining significantly and is under new pressure from disease

New report outlines a path to reduce ocean plastic by 2025

30th October 2015 Nonprofit environmental advocacy group Ocean Conservancy last month announced the global launch of a new report titled ‘Stemming the Tide: Land-Based Strategies for a Plastic-Free Ocean’. This solutions-oriented report, compiled in partnership with global management consulting firm McKinsey... →

GROWING CONCERN
Eight-million tons of plastic products leak into the world’s oceans every year – and these amounts continue to grow

Photo by Bloomberg
GROWING CONCERN Eight-million tons of plastic products leak into the world’s oceans every year – and these amounts continue to grow

Enviro solutions company combats hazardous waste

By: Kimberley Smuts 30th October 2015 Recycling, waste and pest management company GreenSolution in September partnered with a sludge removal company to coordinate on-site sludge removal and filtration processes as part of its aim to mitigate the challenges of inefficient waste management, while trying to comply with waste disposal... →

COMBATING HAZARDOUS WASTE GreenSolution’s on-site waste management programme ensures that waste is disposed of responsibly and in a manner that can be recorded and traced

Sustainable solutions provided for hydroelectricity components

By: Kimberley Smuts 30th October 2015 With a focus on using renewable-energy sources to produce green energy as a reliable source of electricity, power generation products provider Vert Energy provides sustainable solutions for hydroelectricity, wind power and for steam and gas turbines. The company has the capacity to deliver... →

SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION PROVIDED Vert Energy provides sustainable solutions for hydroelectricity, wind power and for steam and gas turbines

SA government welcomes EcoMobility World Festival 2015

30th October 2015 Addressing the province on behalf of the Gauteng provincial government, Gauteng Premier David Makhura on October 4 welcomed the launch of Johannesburg Streets Alive: the EcoMobility World Festival 2015, in Sandton City, Johannesburg The festival took place during Transport Month, which promotes... →

ECOMOBILITY IN JOBURG The EcoMobility Festival promotes the use of public transport and encourages citizens to imagine and embrace alternative means of moving goods and people

Nema, EIA regulation amendments could stall project development

By: David Oliveira 6th March 2015 Project development could be negatively affected by the amendments made to the National Environmental Management Act (Nema) and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations, which came into effect in September and December 2014 respectively, says business law and litigation firm Fasken... →

Gains made in fight against rhino poaching

6th March 2015 South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) secured a conviction rate of 61% in criminal cases related to rhino poaching during the 2013/14 financial year, said Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa. Speaking at a media briefing in January on the measures being taken to combat rhino... →

EIA regulation amendments foster interdepartmental collaboration

By: David Oliveira 6th March 2015 The amendments made to the National Environmental Management Act (Nema) concerning Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations, which came into effect in December, is a positive step towards interdepartmental collaboration, says law firm ENSafrica environmental director Robyn Stein. She... →

Waste tyre project possibly replicable for other waste streams

By: Mia Breytenbach 3rd November 2014 The Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of South Africa (Redisa) reports that the concept of its effective waste tyre project could be implemented in other waste streams, Redisa director Stacey Davidson tells Engineering News. “Redisa’s waste tyre project has made a significant impact,... →

INITIATIVE SUCCESS
The Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of South Africa had processed about 35 489 t of waste tyres as at the end of September

Photo by Bloomberg
INITIATIVE SUCCESS The Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of South Africa had processed about 35 489 t of waste tyres as at the end of September

New oil-water separator launched

By: Mia Breytenbach 31st October 2014 Environmental management products and services provider Procon Environmental Technologies launched a new locally developed oil water separator at the Electra Mining Africa exhibition last month. Procon MD Kuno Kerlen tells Engineering News that the ProSpin hydrocyclone treatment system separates... →

NEW DESIGN The ProSpin technology includes a multiport entry in the hydrocyclone that allows for greater separation of oil and water

Going green hampered by cost implications

By: Mia Breytenbach 31st October 2014 The South African market tends to be indifferent towards the green industry trend, with the current market seemingly not valuing buildings that practise green management or that have been designed with green principles, says integrated facilities management solutions provider Servest. “As the... →

GREEN INDIFFERENCE Companies are focusing more on short-term investments and returns to reduce upfront investment costs, which negates the “green impact”

Industry body offers environmental impact assessments

By: Mia Breytenbach 31st October 2014 To raise awareness of the requirements of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations, as well as offer support to companies that are required to implement them, industry body the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) conducts these assessments for... →

INCREASING AWARENESS
The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa started offering environmental impact assessments to industry in July

Photo by Bloomberg
INCREASING AWARENESS The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa started offering environmental impact assessments to industry in July

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COAL LITIGATION

Three civil society groups have taken the South African government to court over its plan to build 1 500 MW of new coal capacity in line with the Integrated Resource Plan of 2019. In September, lawyers for groundWork, the African Climate Alliance and the Vukani Environmental Justice Movement in Action wrote to Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe and the National Energy Regulator of South Africa demanding that the plan be scrapped. After not receiving a response, litigation was launched this month on the basis that the plants would violate the constitutional right to an environment not harmful to health and wellbeing. Photograph: Reuters

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