2.2.3 Determining current domestic waste generation per capita

Estimations on the amount of waste generated can be calculated per week, per month or per year. The 2006 State of the Environment Report (SOER) indicated that South Africa generated 42 million m3 of solid waste per year. This amounted to 0,7kg's per person per day. The generation rates were further broken down into generation rates per income category and the results were as follows:

  • Low income= 0.41kg/per person/day or (0.41kgx365 days)=149.65kg/person/year
  • Middle income=0.74kg/per person/day or (0.74kgx 365days) = 270.1kg/person/year
  • High income= 1.29kg/person/day or (1.29kgx365days) = 470.85kg/person/year

Linking to the table on demographic information under section 2.1.1, and having calculated the current waste generation rates a municipality can then add a column which estimates the current domestic waste generation per capita as illustrated below. In this instance, an assumption is made that the current waste domestic generation rates are according to the 2006, SOER figures and it is classified according to settlement types.

Table 9: Determining current domestic waste generation rates per capita

Type of settlement Base population Growth estimates9 Population distribution Current domestic waste generation rates per capita10 (per year in kg's11)
High income, low density 100 000 0.86% per annum Age: youth: 50 000, middle age: 40 000 and old age: 10 00012
Gender: male: 40 000 , female: 60 000
Education: primary: 30 000 , secondary: 40 000 and tertiary: 30 000		 100 000x470.85 kg = 47 085 000 kg's/person/year
Then convert to tons:
47 085 000÷1000 = 47 085 tons
Middle income, middle density 200 000 1.62% per annum Age: youth: 100 000, middle age: 60 000 and old age: 40 000
Gender: male:70 000 , female: 130 000
Education: primary: 60 000, secondary: 90 000 and tertiary: 50 000		 200 000x 270.1kg = 54 020 000 kg's/person/year
Then convert to tons:
54 020 000÷1000 = 54 020 tons
Low income, high density (including Informal settlements) 500 000 3.8% per annum Age: youth: 250 000, middle age: 150 00 and old age: 100 000
Gender: male: 200 000, female: 300 000
Education: primary: 300 000, secondary: 150 000 and tertiary: 50 000		 500 000x 149.65kg= 74 825 000 kg's person/year
Then convert to tons:
74 825 000 ÷ 1000 = 74 825 tons
Rural settlements 300 000 2.5% per annum Age: youth: 150 000, middle age: 90 000 and old age: 60 000
Gender: male: 110 000, female: 190 000
Education: primary: 140 000, secondary: 90 000 and tertiary: 70 000		 300 000x 149.65kg = 44 895 000 kg's person/year
Then convert to tons:
44 895 000 ÷ 1000 = 44 895 tons


  1. According to the Mid year growth Estimate report StatsSA 2011
  2. 2006 State of the Environment Report : low income=0.41kg/person/day
    Middle income=0.74kg/person/day
    high income=1.29kg/person/day
  3. 1000 kg=1 ton
  4. Age-Youth=0-35yrs; Middle age=36-60; old age >61