Waste sector small and medium-sized enterprises and their role in the extended producer responsibility; a case study of environmental responsibility in SMEs in eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa).
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Date
2014
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Abstract
Both the waste sector and corporate enterprises, under the banner of corporate social and
environmental responsibility (CSER), have a role to play in sustainable development,
particularly in the South African context where legislation supports the waste hierarchy in its
approach to waste management, and the promotion of employment and small and mediumsized
enterprises (SMEs). SMEs, due to their vast number and the significance of their
aggregate contribution to the global economy, have been identified as key contributors to
sustainable development. Global supply chains rely heavily on SME suppliers and service
providers, yet the combined environmental impact of SMEs remains un-quantified and their
engagement in CSER is underexplored.
This research explores the role that SMEs play in extended producer and environmental
responsibility from a waste management perspective in the eThekwini Municipal area,
describes the barriers that SMEs face when implementing environmental measures and
provides a critical assessment of environmental responsibility in waste management supply
chains. Case studies, where interviews and documentations were used as data collection
methods, on waste management supply chains are provided.
It is evident that there is a culture of outsourcing of the waste management function in the
eThekwini municipal area and SMEs are an important component of the waste management
value chain. However, environmental responsibility amongst the SMEs is poor as the SMEs
response to supply chain or legislative pressure is weak. The bureaucracy of legal
requirements of the waste sector, an ill-informed public and business sector regarding
environmental issues, and the highly competitive nature of the waste sector are common
obstacles experienced. In the face of difficulties such as limited resources, some SMEs are
responding to legislative pressure and adopting the ISO 14001 certification. Many SMEs are
responding to supply chain pressure in terms of the Broad Based Black Economic
Empowerment Act and participating in social responsibility activities. Findings from this
research support the government’s vision of the creation of employment, the promotion of
small business within the waste sector and the role that SMEs play in sustainable
development in South Africa however; there is a need for strategies to address the
environmental problems of small business.
Description
Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.