DFFE calls for mandatory waste management licence applications

SHE Alert 36, 11 December 2025

Notice to Apply for a Waste Management Licence as well as Regulations relating to the procedure to be followed to apply for a Waste Management Licence.

On 10 December 2025, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment published a Notice in terms of the National Environmental Management: Waste Act 59 of 2008 (“NEMWA”) calling upon the following persons to apply for a waste management licence (“WML”) within 2 years from the date of the Notice (i.e 10 December 2027):

• persons who operate a waste disposal facility, that was established before the coming into effect of the Environment Conservation Act 73 of 1998 (“ECA”) and where that facility was operational on the date of coming into effect of the NEMWA;

• holders of a permit issued in terms of section 20 of the ECA, where the Minister is the licensing authority in terms of the NEMWA;

• persons who conducted waste management activities in Schedule 1 on the date of coming into effect of the NEMWA, and who immediate before that date lawfully conducted that waste management activity in compliance with GN 91 of 1 February 2002.

The above mentioned persons must apply for a WML by following the procedure set out in the Regulations relating to the Procedure to be followed by Persons called upon by the Minister to apply for a WML published by the Minister in the Government Gazette on the same date.