UCT Sustainability and the SDGs 2022 - Report - Page 35
Research into construction
and demolition waste in
South Africa
In a paper published in 2022, two researchers
in the Department of Chemical Engineering
set out to quantify how much construction
and demolition waste is generated annually in
South Africa. This waste, produced from the
construction, renovation, repair and demolition
of the built environment, is one of the largest
waste streams and is generally not well
documented or understood.
The findings were that the actual construction and
demolition waste output was significantly higher
than what is reported in official national statistics.
This finding is important because without a proper
understanding of the scale of construction and demolition
waste, sustainable and effective waste management
practices cannot be implemented.
Award-winning postgraduate
dissertation on plastic waste
South Africa ranks 11th among the world’s worst
contributors to marine plastic waste, with single-use
plastic making up the bulk of it. Kirsten Barratt’s master’s
thesis in environmental law examines legal regulations
around plastic waste and suggests incentives to reduce,
reuse and recycle this useful but pervasive commodity.
Barratt graduated in December 2022, but prior to her
graduation she co-authored an essay with fellow UCT
student Koaile Monaheng and Rhodes University’s Megan
Mannion. The essay was based on Barratt’s dissertation
and won a silver medal in the COP27 Climate Law and
Governance Day essay competition in November 2022.
Sustainability and the SDGs 2022 – 35
