Simmer and Jack put measures in place to resolve concerns
There was no proper compacting and covering on the landfill from 2018.
The Simmer and Jack Landfill Site is attending to complaints previously voiced by residents of Wychwood and Simmerfield.
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GCN previously reported on residents’ grievances, which included crime and health issues.
Ward 36 Clr Wendy Morgan said the landfill site has been made aware of the residents’ concerns and they are attending to them.
She said since the previous landfill operator contract was terminated and the fire in October 2019, the landfill site has not been operated correctly.
“There was no proper compacting and covering on the landfill from 2018. The site was overloaded with refuge due to only one other landfill site in Ekurhuleni operating since last year.
“The Simmer and Jack Landfill Site increased the monthly tonnage of about 20 to 25 per month, increased to 50 tons.
“This extra weight as well as the wrong compacting and covering of the landfill site caused the seepage of leachate liquid.
“There is currently double the required resources for covering on site to ensure that the compacting and covering is caught up and done correctly. This leachate is running into the dam and must then be pumped into a secondary dam where it is treated with DIOX and Super F Chemical to break down the leachate and help with the smell,” said Morgan.
“The leachate system pumps were stolen while the landfill was not operating and must be replaced. The orders for the pumps have been placed. Pumping has been done above ground for now.
“By Friday, February 25 the dams had been emptied and leachate had been moved to the holding dam with added chemicals. There has since been more rain so these dams will have to be emptied again.
“The current cell has reached its allowable height and will be closed. The sides are built up at the back on Johan Rissik roadside and will be moved to the back cells from the end soon.”
She said ambient air quality tests are being done to test the quality of the air around the site.
“Groundwater will be done through two boreholes that were sunk in 2021 – one at the entrance to the site and one at the exit of the site. There are fly traps on the site which are regularly emptied.”
An Audit of the site was done on February 22 and 25 and reports will be made available once completed.
“The Methane Gas Flare station piping was damaged during the fire and an operator for the flare station will be appointed in March. Tests are being done and there are no alarming reports at this stage,” said Morgan.
She said an odour curtain will be installed along the Northern Face of the landfill site that will spray Super F to help with the smell.
“This is a spray mist system like you find in restaurants when the weather is hot, not an actual curtain.”
Morgan said that following concerns about the boundary wall, a contractor was appointed to do repairs to the damaged sections of the walls.
