eWASA News – 4 March 2022

3D printed concrete may lead to a shift in architecture and construction. Because it can be used to produce new shapes and forms that current technologies struggle with, it may change the centuries-old processes and procedures that are still used to construct buildings, resulting in lower costs and saved time.

However, concrete has a significant environmental impact. Vast quantities of natural sand are currently used to meet the world’s insatiable appetite for concrete, at great cost to the environment. In general, the construction industry struggles with sustainability. It creates around 35% of all landfill waste globally. Read more on Cape Business News.

BBC reports: \”UN member states have agreed to start international negotiations on drawing up a global plastics treaty that could set rules for production, use and disposal of plastics. The decision was made at a meeting of the UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi.

Dr Jeanne d\’Arc Mujawamariya, environment minister for Rwanda, which has been at the forefront of the proposals, said they were optimistic the negotiations would put in place a framework \”to end plastic pollution\”.

Conservation charity WWF described the decision as one of the world\’s most ambitious environmental actions since the 1989 Montreal Protocol, which phased out ozone-depleting substances.

Addressing the full lifecycle of plastic products – production and use, as well as disposal – is key to turning off \”the plastic tap\”, said senior policy advisor, Paula Chin.

\”The next step is to make sure all signatories are ready to deliver on the promise of this ground-breaking agreement,\” she added.\” Read the full article here.

At last week\’s DFFE Industry Waste Management Forum meeting, the department confirmed that PROs should raise invoices and collect EPR fees from producer members. The decision was made to ensure the processes around EPR can go ahead as planned even though we are awaiting official approval of the fee structure. Should the fee structure change once approved, PROs will make the necessary adjustments and pass that on to producers.

We are finalising our annual membership renewals. Our admin team has probably sent you a proforma invoice for the 1 March 2022 –  28 February 2023 membership fees. Should you wish to renew, please let us know so we can prepare a tax invoice and send you the updated membership certificate.