Swift action stops illicit waste discharge
'It is unacceptable and we will not tolerate any such action' - Lafarge SA
Lafarge Holcim Cement in Cleveland has been accused of discharging waste water along a road, causing damage to the road and possibly blocking stormwater systems.
“I am concerned as this is not the first time Lafarge improperly discharged its waste water onto the road. In 2013 they were caught doing the same thing,” said Ms Alison Roberts.
“It saddens me when a major corporate knowingly contravenes the laws protecting our environment. It angers me when they do this. In 2013 I contacted Lafarge Cement about its Cleveland depot discharging cement waste water into the stormwater system, which not only damages our infrastructure but also damages our river systems.
“I was assured the problem would be addressed and it was for a while,” said Ms Roberts.
The EXPRESS contacted Lafarge Holcim for comment.
“As a company that strives to demonstrate leadership in environmental stewardship and role modelling responsibility to future generations, we regret the incident and the distress that it has caused to the community of Cleveland. It is unacceptable and we will not tolerate any such action,” said country communications and public affairs head, Ms Unathi Batyashe-Fillis.
Ms Fillis said Lafarge South Africa has affirmed its commitment to the well-being and safety of the communities in which it operates after it instituted disciplinary proceedings against some employees on one of its sites, following contraventions with the company’s waste management policy.
Ms Fillis said, “The company recently embarked on updating its operating procedures at the site and has assured the public that this was an isolated incident. Lafarge South Africa, a member of the Lafarge Holcim Group, is highly committed to safety and is addressing this issue as a matter of urgency. The company has guaranteed that as part of its operational updates, it aims to ensure alignment of its waste management system at the Cleveland site to its nationwide corporate vision of sustainable environmental procedures,” said Ms Fillis.
The EXPRESS also sent a request for comment to assistant director, stakeholder liaison from the department of environment and infrastructure services at Lafarge Holcim Cement in Cleveland, Mr Anda Mbikwana.
The request for comment was sent on April 20. On April 21, Mr Mbikwana. acknowledged receipt of the inquiry. He forwarded the inquiry on for a response to the EXPRESS. At the time of going to print on April 29, no comment had been received.
