DFFE to Review EPR Regulations and Streamline Waste Licensing

Posted 15 October 2026 Written by Acts Online
Category Environmental Law

Brought to you by SAnews: Under the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, No. 59 of 2008 (NEMWA), the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is reviewing the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Regulations to strengthen institutional governance, financial accountability, and diversion from landfill.

Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Bernice Swarts announced that proposed amendments to the EPR framework will include a mandatory obligation requiring Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) to reinvest 40% of all collected producer fees directly into waste management infrastructure. The intervention aims to address systemic under-capacity, with official departmental data indicating that only approximately 10% of generated waste is currently diverted from landfills, while fewer than 20% of existing municipal and private landfill sites meet statutory compliance thresholds.

To accelerate waste beneficiation and reduce regulatory backlogs, the DFFE is also finalising revisions to the listed waste management activities under Section 19 of NEMWA. The proposed amendments will establish a shortened authorisation turnaround time of 90 days for applications relating to the beneficial use and recovery of waste materials.

Extended Producer Scrutiny and Enterprise Support

The regulatory review places renewed compliance emphasis on the Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) sector, specifically targeting low-cost, high-volume consumer goods (“Fast Tech”) such as cables, earphones, and peripheral accessories. Producers, importers, and brand owners of these products remain subject to statutory collection, recycling, and take-back mandates under EPR notices.

Key structural developments highlighted by the DFFE include:

  • Mandatory PRO infrastructure allocation: A proposed requirement directing 40% of collected EPR levies into capital waste infrastructure;
  • Licensing reform: A targeted 90-day turnaround time for waste management licences facilitating the reuse, recycling, or recovery of waste; and
  • Enterprise funding: Financial allocation of R200 million via the Recycling Enterprise Support Programme, supporting 56 small and medium-sized enterprises across the circular economy value chain.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: Environmental compliance practitioners and waste managers must update internal statutory registers to reflect upcoming revisions to NEMWA listed activities and accelerated 90-day licensing provisions.
  • For your business: Producer Responsibility Organisations and participating scheme operators must model financial budgets to accommodate the proposed requirement allocating 40% of collected fee revenue directly to infrastructure projects.
  • For your clients: Manufacturers, brand owners, and importers of electronics—including low-value accessories—must verify their registration status with the DFFE and confirm their fee payments cover all relevant product categories to avoid penalties under NEMWA.

Originally published at https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/waste-sector-vital-economic-contributor

The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Acts Online. Acts Online accepts no responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the article, nor does the information contained herein constitute advice, legal or otherwise.