M.Sc. / Large development initiatives are currently being implemented in South Africa. Many small towns such as the town of Roossenekal are affected by large developments, especially in terms of their service delivery capacity and resources. This study attempts to illustrate how effective waste management can be implemented in small rural towns such as Roossenekal by incorporating current legislation and development plans as a driving force. The waste stream generated in this town comprises large enough volumes of recyclable waste to attain the national waste-to-landfill reduction targets. Various measures such as at-source separation and the bulk storage of recyclables for collection by commercial recyclers, as well as domestic composting, are considered to be relevant. This study shows that fairly simple interventions could have overridingly positive effects on the management of waste in the town of Roossenekal and that the vision of attaining national strategic goals and objectives could in fact be realised. Cognisance has been taken of the current policy governing waste management and it is evident that by applying the waste hierarchy approach, simple and custom-made solutions can be identified. This study identifies development and national policy as key drivers in implementing effective waste management strategies. Large projects such as the construction of the De Hoop dam, as well as commercial ventures such as the mines and commercial recyclers that are currently operating in the town and its surrounds, are considered to be major role-players which could make a valuable contribution to waste management.