Looking at waste management differently

In 2016, Averda established its South African operation through a number of acquisitions. Averda South Africa offers a complete waste-management solution under one banner, drawing on the company’s global expertise and experience to offer South Africa a range of fully integrated, end-to-end waste-management solutions; from on-site solutions to landfill management and disposal.

Averda is headquartered in Dubai, with regional operations situated in Abu Dhabi, Johannesburg and Casablanca. It operates in 13 countries on three continents.

Heidi Ford, Averda’s National ops and compliance manager – Healthcare, gives insight into Averda’s entry into the South African market: “Averda South Africa offers a range of services within a number of portfolios – general and hazardous waste collection, on-site waste management, specialised industrial cleaning, pipe inspection and analysis, landfill management and healthcare waste management.

“For example, Averda Healthcare Waste Solutions partners with healthcare professionals in their efforts to deliver superior care. In selecting a competent healthcare waste service provider, clients need to consider all the factors that lead up to their decision, considering that the decision does not end at the signing of the contract, or the acknowledgment of price.

“Ideally clients should focus on their specific needs and the solution offered to accommodate both present and future requirements, which may grow from a small, entry-level service offering to a total holistic and integrated waste solution,” she adds.

This includes a national footprint in South Africa, a range of treatment facilities and capacities, owned landfill sites that allow exclusive control of the liability of the waste from cradle to grave, specialised vehicles, and access to and investment in new technologies through international associations.

“All individuals exposed to hazardous Healthcare Waste (HCW) are potentially at risk of being injured or infected. Compliance with the basic principles of segregation at source, into the correct containers, and transport to the correct, licensed destruction facilities is paramount in working towards achieving the objectives of protecting the healthcare workers, and the population, and minimising direct impacts from environmental exposures to healthcare waste,” says Ford.

Although the Waste Act and various regulations and standards have already been put in place, there are still numerous pieces of draft legislation in the process of being finalised, and regulations differ in some cases from province to province, which does cause confusion.

The management of healthcare waste requires increased attention in all areas, and Averda offers various technologies to ensure cost effective management, and a range of options that can be tailor-made to suit budgets, plus short- and long-term needs.

“Waste minimisation and recycling are two distinct processes necessary to reduce the impact on the environment. Averda is moving forward to maximise the entire range of processes and activities in the management and disposal of waste through the selection of optimal resources and methods – ‘a Total Waste Management Solution’.

“This service ensures that the environmental impact is minimised in the life of waste from cradle to grave. In order to manage and minimise the amount of waste that is transported, treated, and landfilled, Averda can introduce on-site management teams.

“Each facility is assessed independently and specific needs are taken into consideration. The teams work in conjunction with the hospitals teams, removing the pressure from other sectors not focused on waste management,” Ford concludes.