Environmental Performance in the Waste Management Industry of Africa: A Measure of Responsible Management

Introduction

Due to rapid innovation in technology, the global economy, and urbanization, man has established the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which has increased the standard of living. This has led to an increase in industrial processing, which has accelerated the generation of waste. Waste management has rapidly become one of the global environmental issues (Song, Li & Zeng, 2015:1). Due to a rapid increase in population and industrial advancements, there has been an increased generation of waste in Africa. For instance, the waste management sector in South Africa plays a vital role in the South African economy, the sector has been valued at 15.3 billion rand, and contributes to 0.51% of the country’s GDP and contributing to economic growth (Department of Environmental Affairs, 2017).

In the last decade, there have been numerous reports of environmental degradation, pollution and non-compliances by the activities of waste management companies that has shown to have strong bearing on responsible management. Responsible management can be described as “seeking to balance the interests of the entire world (people, companies and environment) to prosper for the benefit of both current and future generations”. Waste has now become one of the most significant environmental issues that requires attention to enhance responsible management. In this context, the waste management sector plays a vital role in the African economy as waste is generated from all industries, which needs to be disposed of in a legal and accountable manner (Singh, Brueckner, & Padhy, 2015:16). For instance, much emphasis has been placed on the waste sector lately with the National Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) in South Africa, declaring a “War on Waste”. The DEA have been striving to implement measures to ensure that waste is recycled, re-used, reduced and beneficiated. Targets and deadlines have been placed on waste generators and waste management companies to comply with national legislation in order to ensure the protection of the environment, health and safety of the public and to promote responsible management (Young, Davis, Mcneil, Malhotra, Russell, Unsworth, & Clegg, 2015:670).

However, research suggests that sound waste management practices in Africa are not under control by those who are actively involved in waste management (DEA, 2017). Although the intention is there to act responsibly, there are various barriers to good waste behaviour. Also, whilst there is intent to perform proper waste management practices, to enhance environmental performance, there has been weak translation into good behaviour (Godfrey, Scott, & Trois, 2013:295).

Therefore, the study is predicated on the thrust that the main factors affecting environmental performance in the waste industry of African developing countries such as organizational culture, environmental management system and the pro-environmental behaviour of employees can improve environmental performance in the waste industry of African developing countries and ensure responsible management practices.

The chapter focuses mainly on Municipal solid wastes (MSW) that are waste generated everyday although it makes mention of other types of waste in the content of the chapter.

Table 1 highlights the amount of MSW recorded in various cities of Africa.

Source: Kawai and Tasaki (2016)