HEALTHCARE RISK WASTE: INPUT SOUGHT ON DRAFT REGULATIONS

HEALTHCARE RISK WASTE: INPUT SOUGHT ON DRAFT REGULATIONS

• 03 February 2026
• Environmental Law
• SA Legal Academy

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries & the Environment has gazetted draft regulations on the transportation, storage and treatment of ‘healthcare risk waste’ under the 2008 National Environmental Management: Waste Act – calling for input by 5 March 2026.

Although the proposed new regulations make no reference to those in place since May 2014 under the 2003 National Health Act, the inclusion of transitional arrangements tends to point to the possible repeal of certain existing provisions. This is noting that:

• the prevailing regulations and those now being proposed include similar lists of healthcare risk waste, and that
• the 2014 regulations are significantly more comprehensive.

Against that backdrop, among other things the draft regulations deal with:

• general prohibitions
• the duties of waste transporters and waste managers
• ‘non-combustion treatment’ (including related technology validation testing), and
• waste residue.

Please click the links below for more information:

• draft regulations
• May 2014 regulations

Published by SA Legal Academy Policy Watch

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