Since 1994, there have been sweeping changes made to South African policy and legislation, including environmental rights for all people, environmental protection and the consideration of sustainability in all activities. A national policy for medical waste management is being developed and guidelines for the South African Veterinary Council are currently being revised. By auditing contemporary veterinary waste management in one of South Africa's largest cities, this study sought to provide appropriate input into these initiatives. As a study area, the Durban Unicity provided the opportunity to audit a large population of veterinary clinics within a relatively short distance of each other arid also the opportunity to ascertain whether waste management practices were dependent on the socio-economic status of the clinics catchment area. A pilot study was used to inform the design of a questionnaire, which was then administered to thirty-two clinics sampled to represent a range in size of clinic, predominant type of patient treated and catchment socio-economic status. Another questionnaire was administered to four waste disposal companies and one veterinary diagnostics laboratory that removed waste for disposal from veterinary practices. The main findings suggest that there is a health risk to staff and the public, due to the incorrect separation, storage, handling and disposal of sharps, anatomical, contaminated domestic and infectious material. Staff at 6.3% of clinics sampled are not provided with any safety equipment. Most veterinarians (63%) as well as two of the five waste disposal companies audited were not aware of their responsibilities in terms of waste management policy and legislation. Sixty nine percent of the practices sampled reported that employees have either never been trained or have not received training in waste management in the past five years. Domestic waste contaminated with other potentially hazardous waste forms 12% of the total waste stream reported by practices. Even though the results indicate that a, few veterinary practices are mismanaging their waste this has the potential negative impact on staff, the public and the environment. The findings of the study would suggest a need for well communicated, enforceable guidelines outlining sustainable veterinary waste management for practices and waste disposal companies. The study highlights the similarities between veterinary and medical waste and the need to consider this in planning an effective waste management strategy. It also provides guidelines for a sustainable approach to veterinary waste management. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

This is a case study of people living in the Merebank/Wentworth area which is highly polluted. This area is sandwiched between the engine refinery SAPREF, Mondi paper mill, the Durban airport and other small industries. As such it is exposed to a mixture of gases in the atmosphere which is detrimental to the health of the residents. The residents have discovered that they cannot rely on government and authorities to bring relief to the situation and have thus made it a point to acquire 'really useful knowledge' in making industries accept accountability and "clean up their act." The study has confirmed that community organisations played a significant role in raising awareness of the pollution issue and mobilising people in social action which has resulted in the industries being pressurised to improve technology in refining crude oil. The study aimed to explore the kinds of learning that took place when the residents collectively participated in social action. Social interaction is a salient feature of learning. The case study is 'heuristic' in nature in that the community gives new meaning to their experience. A situated learning approach based on social learning theory is proposed as a theoretical framework for the study. Data for the inquiry into the participants group learning and social action consisted of taped interviews, participant observation and analysis of documents. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002.