NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: WASTE ACT, 2008 (ACT NO. 59 OF 2008): NATIONAL NORMS AND STANDARDS FOR THE TRANSPORTATION, STORAGE AND TREATMENT OF HEALTH CARE RISK WASTE
Notice Title: National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 59 of 2008 (“NEMWA”): National Norms and Standards for the Transportation, Storage and Treatment of Health Care Risk Waste
Government Notice: GN 7085 in GG 54077 on 3 February 2026
Commencing date: Comments to be submitted on or before 5 March 2026
The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, in terms of section 7(1)(c) read with sections 72 and 73 of the NEMWA, published the draft National Norms and Standards for the Transportation, Storage, and Treatment of Health Care Risk Waste, for public comments.
The proposed Norms and Standards:
- aim to regulate the management of Health Care Risk Waste (“HCRW”) throughout its lifecycle in line with NEMWA and prescribe the responsibilities of transporters and waste managers when managing HCRW.
- They outline the requirements that aim to provide for mechanisms which could implement correct measures for storage, handling and transportation, proper treatment and correct disposal post treatment to ensure that the waste is well managed and ultimately safely disposed of after treatment, and to ensure third party protection.
- They further prescribe the frequency and quantity of testing that is required to confirm the level of disinfection obtained through efficacy testing by non-combustion treatment technologies.
Members of the public are invited to submit comments on or before 5 March 2026. For a copy of the Government Gazette Notice click here: National Environmental Management: Waste Act: National norms and standards for transportation, storage and treatment of health care risk waste
For more information or assistance please contact Jan Nel at jan@shangoni.co.za.
