Municipal by Laws

MUNICIPAL BY LAWS ON INTERGRATED WASTE MAMAGEMENT OFFENCES
Summary
The Municipal By-laws of Emakhazeni Local Municipality encompass regulations governing various
aspects within the municipality’s jurisdiction. These by-laws typically cover areas such as traffic and
parking, waste management, land use and zoning, noise control, animal control, building regulations,
and other local governance matters. Specific details may vary, but the overarching goal is to ensure
the orderly functioning and well-being of the municipality and its residents.
Each offence has its own unique section, code and a fine the offender or any entity within the
jurisdiction of the municipality. In terms of waste management, the roles of both the municipality and
that of members of the community are clearly stipulated. There are different types of waste and
different ways to dispose of this waste.
In terms of domestic waste, in Waterval Boven, so far, our research in trying to identify and understand
challenges in the management of domestic waste discovered that female sanitary pads are disposed
in ways that are not in accordance with the by-laws of the municipality;
 The technical team at the Waterval Boven office cited issues such as the flushing of such
waste. Which results in the clogging up of sewer systems. This constitutes unauthorised
disposal/dumping, a violation of Section 31 (1) which stipulates that ‘no person may dump or
dispose of any waste whatsoever in public place; any drain or watercourse’ and carries a fine
of R5000.00.
 Some prefer to burn this waste which is a violation of Section (30) (a), which stipulates that
‘No person may dispose of waste by burning it, either in a public or private place’ and carries
a fine of R500.00.
 Others prefer to store this type of waste in bulk. Under the Collection and Disposal of Bulky
Waste Section 31 (1), ‘Any person generating bulky waste must ensure such waste is collected
and recycled or disposed of at a designated facility and may not put such waste as part of the
municipal routine collection. A violation of this act comes with a fine of R5000.00.
Environmental Impact
It has been found that disposable sanitary pads;

 Contain as much as 90% plastic in the form of leak-proof bases and additional absorbent strips.
 Disposable pads can take 500-800 years to decompose in a landfill, while non-biodegradable
materials it contains, such as plastic never do. It is common knowledge that micro-plastics
represent a significant hazard to marine ecosystems.
 When burned, disposable sanitary pads release harmful toxic chemicals into the atmosphere,
which are known to cause serious health issues.
 When flushed down the toilet, sanitary towels can block the sewage and/or seep toxic
chemicals into underground water.
Alternatives to disposable sanitary pads
Some products that have gained a lot of attention include the menstrual cup, reusable sanitary
napkins, and pants. Many of these products are now readily available in online. Menstrual cups are
reusable for up to ten years; they are made of medical-grade silicone or rubber and are inserted to
collect menstrual blood. The reusable menstrual cup is said to have the smallest ecological footprint,
particularly in terms of trash. Menstrual cups are reusable for up to ten years; they are made of
medical-grade silicone or rubber and are inserted to collect menstrual blood. The reusable menstrual
cup is said to have the smallest ecological footprint, particularly in terms of trash.
In parts of Africa, women are beginning to produce and use reusable sanitary towels, but the narrative
centres on poverty, the fact that only those who are too poor to afford disposable sanitary towels
should stoop to the lower alternative of reusable sanitary towels. Studies, however, have shown that
when reusable pads made of fabric are not well taken care of, they can lead to urinary tract infections
(C. Ezeanya-Esiobu, 2023).
Role of Environmental Management Officials
Environmental officials play a crucial role in enforcing municipal by-laws related to environmental
protection and management. They can apply these by-laws by conducting;
 inspections, issuing citations or fines for violations,
 providing education and outreach to the community about environmental regulations, and
collaborating with other agencies and stakeholders to address environmental concerns
 Additionally, environmental officials may be involved in developing and updating by-laws to
address emerging environmental issues or to align with changing regulations at higher levels
of government. Their work helps to ensure compliance with environmental standards and
promotes sustainable practices within the municipality.
As part of the EPWP and CWP initiatives to assist with cleaning of illegal dumping hot spots is also
proven to be a successful programme to date and should continue however, challenges have occurred
with limitation of equipment’s and machinery. The implementation of the youth on waste project is
also positive in terms of raising awareness. There is a need to establish a recycling and or buy back
centres in the area which will be a more effective programme than ad hoc recycling initiatives.

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MUNICIPAL BY LAWS ON INTERGRATED WASTE MAMAGEMENT OFFENCES

It has been found that disposable sanitary pads;

Alternatives to disposable sanitary pads

Role of Environmental Management Officials

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