Rapid population growth and urbanisation has resulted in a drastic increase in the volume of waste produced by the World populace. The resulting pressure on the country’s somewhat underdeveloped waste management infrastructure emphasizes the need for waste management solutions which balance environmental protection with economic sustainability. Waste is seen as an unwanted or surplus by-product, emission or residue of any process or activity which has been discarded, accumulated or stored for the purpose of discarding or future processing. Hazardous waste is waste that may, by circumstance of use, quantity, concentration or inherent physical, chemical or infectious characteristics, cause ill-health or an increased mortality rate in humans, fauna and/or flora. General waste on the other hand, is waste that does not pose an immediate threat to human health or the environment. Currently household waste is considered general waste even though it may contain hazardous components such as fluorescent tubes and/or other household chemicals. Promulgation of NEM: WA (no 59 of 2008) provides instruments for the implementation of the steps taken by the Department of Environmental Affairs to improve waste management in South Africa. Successful implementation and enforcement of the act will place the country at the forefront of progressive international standards in waste management. One of South Africa’s largest environmental and waste management challenges remains the presence of historical, hazardous waste landfill sites. Characterisation of the dangers that these sites pose to the environment is providing extremely difficult and expensive, as is the ongoing maintenance and management of these facilities – placing economic strain on national municipalities. This study was done in two phases. The first related to the hazardous waste components of household waste that is being dumped at landfill site and the methods of classification, handling and dumping of hazardous waste have been investigated. All the legislation was taken into consideration to see if the landfill sites comply with the latest legislation. The second phase was a comparison between three landfill sites. The management, work activities and general appearance of the sites have been compared internally. Then a comparison have been done between the following landfill sites Kwaggasrand landfill site in Tshwane, Weltevreden landfill site in Brakpan and an ideal landfill site developed in accordance with the Minimum Requirements documents published by of DEAT in 1998. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Geography and Environmental Studies))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Rapid population growth and urbanisation has resulted in a drastic increase in the volume of waste produced by the World populace. The resulting pressure on the country’s somewhat underdeveloped waste management infrastructure emphasizes the need for waste management solutions which balance environmental protection with economic sustainability. Waste is seen as an unwanted or surplus by-product, emission or residue of any process or activity which has been discarded, accumulated or stored for the purpose of discarding or future processing. Hazardous waste is waste that may, by circumstance of use, quantity, concentration or inherent physical, chemical or infectious characteristics, cause ill-health or an increased mortality rate in humans, fauna and/or flora. General waste on the other hand, is waste that does not pose an immediate threat to human health or the environment. Currently household waste is considered general waste even though it may contain hazardous components such as fluorescent tubes and/or other household chemicals. Promulgation of NEM: WA (no 59 of 2008) provides instruments for the implementation of the steps taken by the Department of Environmental Affairs to improve waste management in South Africa. Successful implementation and enforcement of the act will place the country at the forefront of progressive international standards in waste management. One of South Africa’s largest environmental and waste management challenges remains the presence of historical, hazardous waste landfill sites. Characterisation of the dangers that these sites pose to the environment is providing extremely difficult and expensive, as is the ongoing maintenance and management of these facilities – placing economic strain on national municipalities. This study was done in two phases. The first related to the hazardous waste components of household waste that is being dumped at landfill site and the methods of classification, handling and dumping of hazardous waste have been investigated. All the legislation was taken into consideration to see if the landfill sites comply with the latest legislation. The second phase was a comparison between three landfill sites. The management, work activities and general appearance of the sites have been compared internally. Then a comparison have been done between the following landfill sites Kwaggasrand landfill site in Tshwane, Weltevreden landfill site in Brakpan and an ideal landfill site developed in accordance with the Minimum Requirements documents published by of DEAT in 1998. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Geography and Environmental Studies))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.