New landfill planned for Shongweni

LAST week, the eThekwini Municipality, in a full council meeting, approved plans to expropriate land for a Durban Solid Waste (DSW) landfill site in Shongweni for R27 600 000.

The DA’s eThekwini environmental planning and climate protection spokesman, Marlaine Nair said the land, approximately 550.4662 hectares, belongs to Tongaat Hulett Limited.

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It was noted in the meeting the purchase was a result of a looming waste crisis as the landfill site in Mariannhill is fast approaching a premature closure this year and the city’s Buffelsdraai and Lovu landfill sites are under strain.

“Our concern is that the residents in Shongweni and surrounding areas have, for a long time, complained about the EnviroServ landfill site and the addition of a second landfill site, just a few kilometres away, would be disastrous,” said Nair.

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“Furthermore, the landfill site will be positioned on a river, ultimately leading to the contamination of our water sources affecting both fauna and flora.”

Nair continued, “It is alarming that no recent environmental impact assessment (EIA) was included in the report that was tabled at the city’s executive committee and full council. According to the report, the most recent EIA was conducted in 2006 on two sites, one in Shongweni and the other in Cato Ridge.”

The DA is also concerned that the Ntshongweni Urban mixed-use development may be affected by the proposed landfill site.

“While we understand that it is the city’s responsibility to prevent degradation of our environment by providing proper waste management services, we believe that the city should have been proactive and better prepared to deal with the looming waste crisis. We are of the view that the city must prioritise the growth of recycling initiatives and look at new ways to with deal with the increasing amounts of waste,” said Nair.

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