Description
The evaluation comprised two separate reports: a survey of companies in the Consumer-Formulated
Chemical Industry of the Western Cape; and a comprehensive set of user-friendly guidelines for the
disposal of hazardous waste. Of the 21 companies approached, 19 agreed to participate and 17 of these
were based in the City of Cape Town, the other two in other parts of the Western Cape. Each respondent
was requested to list and quantify the chemicals utilised and produced; to provide details of their
treatment and disposal of hazardous waste; inventory record-keeping; staff competencies; waste
minimisation strategies; risk assessment; and emergency control and safety measures. The guidelines
emerged directly from the survey findings and focussed on remedying the inadequacies and
inefficiencies that prevailed in the industry.
The evaluation plan and design was well-resourced with a R360k budget, an appropriate TOR, and a
hands-on management, although the evaluation methodological approach was somewhat simplistic.
Although cognizance of the policy environment was factored into the design, there was no overt
evidence of a broader literature survey. The implementation of the evaluation was well-managed,
independently conducted and incorporating skills development. Site visits were made to the industrial
facilities of various stakeholders by the service provider in order to ensure that the relevant issues for the
sector were incorporated into the study. The evaluation report was well-structured, accessible to the lay
reader, and robust in its findings. Although its conclusions could have been stronger, the emergent
recommendations were comprehensively captured and explained in the user-friendly guidelines for
facility-level hazardous chemical waste managers. The follow-up, use and learning derived from the
evaluation was excellent, resulting in wide dissemination, acceptance in the industry, and further
development of policy pertaining to hazardous waste management. A generic integrated waste
management plan has been developed for the Consumer Formulated Chemical Sector (CFCS) and the
generic guideline and plan is being utilised by the industry to develop facility waste management plans,
as well as by the City of Cape Town, other municipalities and even other provinces.
