The valuation of estuarine goods and services serves to highlight the degree to which estuaries c... more The valuation of estuarine goods and services serves to highlight the degree to which estuaries contribute to human well-being and to show that the social cost of activities which contribute to estuary degradation could be greater than the private gains. We applied this notion to a list of estuaries in the eThekwini municipal area of South Africa to estimate private gains and social costs of sand mining enterprises. Sand mining in rivers is an important source of raw material for the construction industry, but impacts on sediment yield in estuaries, and therefore on estuarine functioning and service provision. We confirmed the presence of negative externalities in the sand mining industry that are not reflected in the market price of sand, implying that the sand resource is currently being over-exploited, to the detriment of estuarine ecological functioning and long term social well-being. These external costs are estimated at the estuary level for the study area. An assessment of t...
a b s t r a c t Extended producer responsibility (EPR) is a policy concept aimed at extending pro... more a b s t r a c t Extended producer responsibility (EPR) is a policy concept aimed at extending producers' responsibility for their products to the post-consumer stage of their products' lifecycle. This paper examines various approaches to implementing EPR for various types of packaging waste in South Africa, focusing in particular on their effectiveness in stimulating the recovery of post-consumer packaging material for recycling. In particular, the approaches adopted in the plastic bag, steel beverage can, glass and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) industries are examined. It is found that voluntary industry initiatives (as in the can, glass and PET industries) can be effective in stimulating recovery in a developing country context. By contrast, in the South African case, mandatory, government-imposed regulations (as in the plastic bag industry) have not been effective in stimulating recovery. However, this does not imply that voluntary initiatives are always more effecti...
In a previous paper Then, weighted average representative prices (per tonne) were estimated for e... more In a previous paper Then, weighted average representative prices (per tonne) were estimated for each commodity group at each stage of the value chain. Finally, prices were multiplied by quantities, and the resulting values were aggregated across the value chain for all commodity groups. In this way, the total cost of food waste across the food value chain in South Africa was estimated at 2 R61.5 billion per annum (approximately US$7.7 billion); equivalent to 2.1% of South Africa's annual gross domestic product. The bulk of this cost arises from the processing and distribution stages of the fruit and vegetable value chain, as well as the agricultural production and distribution stages of the meat value chain. These results therefore provide an indication of where interventions aimed at reducing food waste should be targeted. Keywords Cost of edible food waste
The valuation of estuarine goods and services serves to highlight the degree to which estuaries c... more The valuation of estuarine goods and services serves to highlight the degree to which estuaries contribute to human well-being and to show that the social cost of activities which contribute to estuary degradation could be greater than the private gains. We applied this notion to a list of estuaries in the eThekwini municipal area of South Africa to estimate private gains and social costs of sand mining enterprises. Sand mining in rivers is an important source of raw material for the construction industry, but impacts on sediment yield in estuaries, and therefore on estuarine functioning and service provision. We confirmed the presence of negative externalities in the sand mining industry that are not reflected in the market price of sand, implying that the sand resource is currently being over-exploited, to the detriment of estuarine ecological functioning and long term social well-being. These external costs are estimated at the estuary level for the study area. An assessment of t...
In a previous paper (Nahman et al., 2012), the authors estimated the costs of household food wast... more In a previous paper (Nahman et al., 2012), the authors estimated the costs of household food waste in South Africa, based on the market value of the wasted food (edible portion only), as well as the costs of disposal to landfill. In this paper, we extend the analysis by assessing the costs of edible food waste throughout the entire food value chain, from agricultural production through to consumption at the household level. First, food waste at each stage of the value chain was quantified in physical units (tonnes) for various food commodity groups. Then, weighted average representative prices (per tonne) were estimated for each commodity group at each stage of the value chain. Finally, prices were multiplied by quantities, and the resulting values were aggregated across the value chain for all commodity groups. In this way, the total cost of food waste across the food value chain in South Africa was estimated at
We compare 16 types of carrier bags in terms of environmental and socio-economic performance. Ove... more We compare 16 types of carrier bags in terms of environmental and socio-economic performance. Overall, reusable plastic bags (particularly the 70 micron HDPE bag) perform better than single-use bags, assuming that they are in fact reused as often as possible. The best single-use bag is the common 24 μm HDPE bag, provided that it has 100% (or at least 75%) recycled content. Biodegradable bags perform poorly, except on the plastic pollution indicator. Single-use bags perform best in terms of employment, particularly paper bags, followed by 100% recycled 24 μm HDPE bags.
Chapter published in Africa Waste Management Outlook. 2018. Nairobi: United Nations Environment P... more Chapter published in Africa Waste Management Outlook. 2018. Nairobi: United Nations Environment Programme
Paper presented at the 24th WasteCon's flagship Conference and Exhibition, 15-19 October 2018... more Paper presented at the 24th WasteCon's flagship Conference and Exhibition, 15-19 October 2018, Emperor's Palace, Johannesburg
The CSIR's latest innovation is a new decision support tool to assist municipalities in imple... more The CSIR's latest innovation is a new decision support tool to assist municipalities in implementing separation at source. The benefits of this tool will include improved household waste recycling, greater landfill space availability and a significant contribution to the country's green economy.
Biodiversity supports a range of ecosystem services that are of fundamental importance to people,... more Biodiversity supports a range of ecosystem services that are of fundamental importance to people, for health, well-being, livelihoods, and survival (Costanza, R. et al., 1997; Daily, G. C., 1997). Often, it is the people from the poorest nations that have the greatest immediate dependency on these ecosystem services; such as direct reliance on natural resources for food, fuel, building material and natural medicines. Thus, gaining a better understanding of the role of biodiversity is fundamental for securing the livelihoods and well-being of people in developing countries. Economic valuation of biodiversity is important since it provides a useful vehicle to highlight and quantify the range of ecosystem service benefits delivered by biodiversity. This paper aims to provide an evaluation of economic and non-economic techniques for assessing the importance of biodiversity to people in developing countries. The research involved a review of over 300 scientific papers and 5 in-depth case...
22nd Waste Management Conference and Exhibition, Somerset West, Western Cape, South Africa, 6-10 ... more 22nd Waste Management Conference and Exhibition, Somerset West, Western Cape, South Africa, 6-10 October 2014
Copyright: Springer. Due to copyright restrictions, the attached pdf contains an abstract of the ... more Copyright: Springer. Due to copyright restrictions, the attached pdf contains an abstract of the book only. For access to the fulltext version, kindly consult the publisher's website.
The term ‘green economy’ is defined in several ways; and there could be confusion in what exactly... more The term ‘green economy’ is defined in several ways; and there could be confusion in what exactly it means. For green economy implementation, it is important to have full understanding of the green economy concept and its principles and other terms and concepts that are linked to it. This chapter highlights the origins, definitions, and principles of the green economy and its meaning in different cultural, political, and socio-economic settings. Agriculture is a key sector for a green economy and is the focus of this book. It is important to recognise the attributes that make agriculture particularly relevant to a green economy. Furthermore, since some agricultural practices are incompatible with green economy principles, the incompatibilities need to be analysed to get a balanced view of the place of agriculture in a green economy. The chapter ends by attempting to resolve potential confusion between green economy implementation in the agriculture sector and related concepts such a...
The food waste reduction potential within the countries of the Middle East and Africa is large an... more The food waste reduction potential within the countries of the Middle East and Africa is large and understudied. Countries in the region are faced with food security and sovereignty issues, with over 50% of food imported in some countries. Due to the many differences in this region, this chapter highlights the state of food waste in two prominent countries: South Africa and Saudi Arabia. Both South Africa and Saudi Arabia have their own food waste challenges and solutions. This chapter summarises the current state of food waste research in each country, and reports the estimated volumes of food waste in South Africa and Saudi Arabia along with any notable policy developments.
Food waste is problematic on a number of levels; including the loss of a potentially valuable foo... more Food waste is problematic on a number of levels; including the loss of a potentially valuable food source or resource for use in other processes; wasted resources and emissions in the food supply chain; and problems associated with the disposal of organic waste to landfill. We quantify the post-consumer food waste stream in South Africa, in order to bring attention to the magnitude of the problem. In addition, we estimate the economic value of the wasted food, as well as the costs associated with disposing putrescible food waste to landfill; in order to highlight the associated costs to society. Costs associated with the loss of a potentially valuable food source are valued using a weighted average market price of the wasted food. Costs associated with the disposal of food waste to landfill are estimated based on per-unit financial and external costs for landfilling estimated in previous work. In total, the costs to society associated with these two food-waste related problems are e...
In addition to its direct impacts on marine ecology and biota, marine plastic debris can affect t... more In addition to its direct impacts on marine ecology and biota, marine plastic debris can affect the delivery of ecosystem services, with resulting impacts on human well-being, society and the economy. It is important to quantify these impacts in economic terms, so as to be able to provide evidence-based support for an appropriate policy response. We review the South African literature on the impacts of marine plastic debris on ecosystem services and on the economy, in order to identify relevant knowledge gaps. The gaps are found to be significant. Some research has been conducted in terms of impacts relating to recreation, aesthetics and tourism and the costs of beach and harbour clean-ups. However, there is a significant lack of research regarding impacts on ecosystem services relating to fisheries and aquaculture, heritage, habitat provision, biodiversity, and nutrient cycles. There is also a significant lack of research regarding direct economic impacts on the transport/shipping ...
The valuation of estuarine goods and services serves to highlight the degree to which estuaries c... more The valuation of estuarine goods and services serves to highlight the degree to which estuaries contribute to human well-being and to show that the social cost of activities which contribute to estuary degradation could be greater than the private gains. We applied this notion to a list of estuaries in the eThekwini municipal area of South Africa to estimate private gains and social costs of sand mining enterprises. Sand mining in rivers is an important source of raw material for the construction industry, but impacts on sediment yield in estuaries, and therefore on estuarine functioning and service provision. We confirmed the presence of negative externalities in the sand mining industry that are not reflected in the market price of sand, implying that the sand resource is currently being over-exploited, to the detriment of estuarine ecological functioning and long term social well-being. These external costs are estimated at the estuary level for the study area. An assessment of t...
a b s t r a c t Extended producer responsibility (EPR) is a policy concept aimed at extending pro... more a b s t r a c t Extended producer responsibility (EPR) is a policy concept aimed at extending producers' responsibility for their products to the post-consumer stage of their products' lifecycle. This paper examines various approaches to implementing EPR for various types of packaging waste in South Africa, focusing in particular on their effectiveness in stimulating the recovery of post-consumer packaging material for recycling. In particular, the approaches adopted in the plastic bag, steel beverage can, glass and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) industries are examined. It is found that voluntary industry initiatives (as in the can, glass and PET industries) can be effective in stimulating recovery in a developing country context. By contrast, in the South African case, mandatory, government-imposed regulations (as in the plastic bag industry) have not been effective in stimulating recovery. However, this does not imply that voluntary initiatives are always more effecti...
In a previous paper Then, weighted average representative prices (per tonne) were estimated for e... more In a previous paper Then, weighted average representative prices (per tonne) were estimated for each commodity group at each stage of the value chain. Finally, prices were multiplied by quantities, and the resulting values were aggregated across the value chain for all commodity groups. In this way, the total cost of food waste across the food value chain in South Africa was estimated at 2 R61.5 billion per annum (approximately US$7.7 billion); equivalent to 2.1% of South Africa's annual gross domestic product. The bulk of this cost arises from the processing and distribution stages of the fruit and vegetable value chain, as well as the agricultural production and distribution stages of the meat value chain. These results therefore provide an indication of where interventions aimed at reducing food waste should be targeted. Keywords Cost of edible food waste
The valuation of estuarine goods and services serves to highlight the degree to which estuaries c... more The valuation of estuarine goods and services serves to highlight the degree to which estuaries contribute to human well-being and to show that the social cost of activities which contribute to estuary degradation could be greater than the private gains. We applied this notion to a list of estuaries in the eThekwini municipal area of South Africa to estimate private gains and social costs of sand mining enterprises. Sand mining in rivers is an important source of raw material for the construction industry, but impacts on sediment yield in estuaries, and therefore on estuarine functioning and service provision. We confirmed the presence of negative externalities in the sand mining industry that are not reflected in the market price of sand, implying that the sand resource is currently being over-exploited, to the detriment of estuarine ecological functioning and long term social well-being. These external costs are estimated at the estuary level for the study area. An assessment of t...
In a previous paper (Nahman et al., 2012), the authors estimated the costs of household food wast... more In a previous paper (Nahman et al., 2012), the authors estimated the costs of household food waste in South Africa, based on the market value of the wasted food (edible portion only), as well as the costs of disposal to landfill. In this paper, we extend the analysis by assessing the costs of edible food waste throughout the entire food value chain, from agricultural production through to consumption at the household level. First, food waste at each stage of the value chain was quantified in physical units (tonnes) for various food commodity groups. Then, weighted average representative prices (per tonne) were estimated for each commodity group at each stage of the value chain. Finally, prices were multiplied by quantities, and the resulting values were aggregated across the value chain for all commodity groups. In this way, the total cost of food waste across the food value chain in South Africa was estimated at
We compare 16 types of carrier bags in terms of environmental and socio-economic performance. Ove... more We compare 16 types of carrier bags in terms of environmental and socio-economic performance. Overall, reusable plastic bags (particularly the 70 micron HDPE bag) perform better than single-use bags, assuming that they are in fact reused as often as possible. The best single-use bag is the common 24 μm HDPE bag, provided that it has 100% (or at least 75%) recycled content. Biodegradable bags perform poorly, except on the plastic pollution indicator. Single-use bags perform best in terms of employment, particularly paper bags, followed by 100% recycled 24 μm HDPE bags.
Chapter published in Africa Waste Management Outlook. 2018. Nairobi: United Nations Environment P... more Chapter published in Africa Waste Management Outlook. 2018. Nairobi: United Nations Environment Programme
Paper presented at the 24th WasteCon's flagship Conference and Exhibition, 15-19 October 2018... more Paper presented at the 24th WasteCon's flagship Conference and Exhibition, 15-19 October 2018, Emperor's Palace, Johannesburg
The CSIR's latest innovation is a new decision support tool to assist municipalities in imple... more The CSIR's latest innovation is a new decision support tool to assist municipalities in implementing separation at source. The benefits of this tool will include improved household waste recycling, greater landfill space availability and a significant contribution to the country's green economy.
Biodiversity supports a range of ecosystem services that are of fundamental importance to people,... more Biodiversity supports a range of ecosystem services that are of fundamental importance to people, for health, well-being, livelihoods, and survival (Costanza, R. et al., 1997; Daily, G. C., 1997). Often, it is the people from the poorest nations that have the greatest immediate dependency on these ecosystem services; such as direct reliance on natural resources for food, fuel, building material and natural medicines. Thus, gaining a better understanding of the role of biodiversity is fundamental for securing the livelihoods and well-being of people in developing countries. Economic valuation of biodiversity is important since it provides a useful vehicle to highlight and quantify the range of ecosystem service benefits delivered by biodiversity. This paper aims to provide an evaluation of economic and non-economic techniques for assessing the importance of biodiversity to people in developing countries. The research involved a review of over 300 scientific papers and 5 in-depth case...
22nd Waste Management Conference and Exhibition, Somerset West, Western Cape, South Africa, 6-10 ... more 22nd Waste Management Conference and Exhibition, Somerset West, Western Cape, South Africa, 6-10 October 2014
Copyright: Springer. Due to copyright restrictions, the attached pdf contains an abstract of the ... more Copyright: Springer. Due to copyright restrictions, the attached pdf contains an abstract of the book only. For access to the fulltext version, kindly consult the publisher's website.
The term ‘green economy’ is defined in several ways; and there could be confusion in what exactly... more The term ‘green economy’ is defined in several ways; and there could be confusion in what exactly it means. For green economy implementation, it is important to have full understanding of the green economy concept and its principles and other terms and concepts that are linked to it. This chapter highlights the origins, definitions, and principles of the green economy and its meaning in different cultural, political, and socio-economic settings. Agriculture is a key sector for a green economy and is the focus of this book. It is important to recognise the attributes that make agriculture particularly relevant to a green economy. Furthermore, since some agricultural practices are incompatible with green economy principles, the incompatibilities need to be analysed to get a balanced view of the place of agriculture in a green economy. The chapter ends by attempting to resolve potential confusion between green economy implementation in the agriculture sector and related concepts such a...
The food waste reduction potential within the countries of the Middle East and Africa is large an... more The food waste reduction potential within the countries of the Middle East and Africa is large and understudied. Countries in the region are faced with food security and sovereignty issues, with over 50% of food imported in some countries. Due to the many differences in this region, this chapter highlights the state of food waste in two prominent countries: South Africa and Saudi Arabia. Both South Africa and Saudi Arabia have their own food waste challenges and solutions. This chapter summarises the current state of food waste research in each country, and reports the estimated volumes of food waste in South Africa and Saudi Arabia along with any notable policy developments.
Food waste is problematic on a number of levels; including the loss of a potentially valuable foo... more Food waste is problematic on a number of levels; including the loss of a potentially valuable food source or resource for use in other processes; wasted resources and emissions in the food supply chain; and problems associated with the disposal of organic waste to landfill. We quantify the post-consumer food waste stream in South Africa, in order to bring attention to the magnitude of the problem. In addition, we estimate the economic value of the wasted food, as well as the costs associated with disposing putrescible food waste to landfill; in order to highlight the associated costs to society. Costs associated with the loss of a potentially valuable food source are valued using a weighted average market price of the wasted food. Costs associated with the disposal of food waste to landfill are estimated based on per-unit financial and external costs for landfilling estimated in previous work. In total, the costs to society associated with these two food-waste related problems are e...
In addition to its direct impacts on marine ecology and biota, marine plastic debris can affect t... more In addition to its direct impacts on marine ecology and biota, marine plastic debris can affect the delivery of ecosystem services, with resulting impacts on human well-being, society and the economy. It is important to quantify these impacts in economic terms, so as to be able to provide evidence-based support for an appropriate policy response. We review the South African literature on the impacts of marine plastic debris on ecosystem services and on the economy, in order to identify relevant knowledge gaps. The gaps are found to be significant. Some research has been conducted in terms of impacts relating to recreation, aesthetics and tourism and the costs of beach and harbour clean-ups. However, there is a significant lack of research regarding impacts on ecosystem services relating to fisheries and aquaculture, heritage, habitat provision, biodiversity, and nutrient cycles. There is also a significant lack of research regarding direct economic impacts on the transport/shipping ...
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Papers by Anton Nahman