Landfill sites in Ekurhuleni set an example
In 2017 AfriForum audited approximately 120 landfill sites in areas with established AfriForum branches.
The civil rights organisation AfriForum audited the landfill sites in Ekurhuleni in May as part of their national project to measure the quality of landfill sites in South Africa.
This audit forms part of an annual national campaign during which landfill sites in towns with established AfriForum branches are measured at the hand of 32 questions.
Landfill sites must obtain 80 per cent to comply with the set standards and all the landfill sites in Ekurhuleni have accomplished this.
According to applicable legislation and regulations, among others, the National Environmental Management Act: Waste, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008), a landfill site must comply with applicable requirements.
This includes factors such as access control, illegal dumping, fire regulations, fencing and rehabilitation.
In 2017 AfriForum audited approximately 120 landfill sites in areas with established AfriForum branches.
These results will be compiled in a report and submitted to the Department of Environmental Affairs.
“We are grateful for the department’s co-operation and that the provincial waste management officers made their audits available to us,” said Chris Boshoff, AfriForum’s co-ordinator for environmental affairs.
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The local audit results were as follow:
• Weltevreden Landfill Site (Brakpan): 97 per cent
• Platkop Landfill Site (Alberton): 97 per cent
• Rooikraal Landfill Site (Boksburg): 97 per cent
• Simmer and Jack Landfill Site (Germiston): 100 per cent
• Rietfontein Landfill Site (Springs): 86 per cent.
“The large landfill sites are managed exceptionally and we are delighted to see at what high standards these sites are maintained,” said Marie Naudé, AfriForum’s district co-ordinator for Gauteng South.
“We will now shift our focus and place it on the management of the smaller sites and transfer stations in the East Rand.”
After the conclusion of this project, AfriForum, in conjunction with a waste-to-energy company, will announce an alternative plan for landfill sites in South Africa.
According to the organisation, similar projects are extremely successful in other countries.
AfriForum will continually monitor the process to ensure that landfill sites that fall short are brought up to standard.
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