Landfill site in a ‘shambles’

Is the local landfill site being deliberately sabotaged?

This is the belief of AbaQulusi Councillor, Magda Viktor, following a fire at the dump site on the morning of January 6.

On that day, billowing smoke alerted authorities to possible trouble.

After visiting the site and finding the fire raging, Cllr Viktor and Chairperson of Vryheid AfriForum, Andre van der Walt contacted the Director of Community Services, Sikhumbuzo Zondo.

An inspector – D Ndlovu – was then dispatched from the Department of Environmental Affairs in Ulundi to survey the scene.

The official report is not yet available and the inspector declined to comment further.

Cllr Viktor believes someone is being paid to start the fires.

Van der Walt added the matter had been brought to the attention of the municipality numerous times but said nothing had been done.

AbaQulusi Local Municipality has contracted a company, allegedly based in Ulundi, to maintain and manage the waste at the landfill.

However, the company’s machines are said to be out of order and it has subcontracted work to local business, TK Gutters.

According to Miles Bowes, the owner of TK Gutters, it was only contracted for two days which was ‘an unrealistic time frame to clean the landfill’.

Zondo later commented the inspector was very upset about the state of the landfill.

Zondo himself said he was pleased with the progress made by the subcontractor to date and said the huge difference warranted another visit from Ndlovu.

However, Bowes told the Vryheid Herald on Tuesday morning that he had ‘pulled off site’ on Monday since the main contractor had not paid him in agreement for the number of days worked.

Bowes said he was subcontracted for six days (January 8 to 13) but was only paid for three days.

Representative of the main contractor, Mr Msimango was not available for comment at the time of going to print.

The Vryheid landfill site has been a poorly managed eyesore for some time. Refuse is currently overflowing towards the road verge near the entrance to the site, due to the landfill itself being overfull.

While landfills are designated for many kinds of waste, sites left unattended and poorly managed can result in damage to the surrounding environment.

A Waste Management Report from the Department of Environmental Affairs showed there were more than ten toxic gases emitted by landfills, the most serious being methane.

Landfill gas is primarily produced due to the lack of oxygen during the decomposing process of waste. The anaerobic (lack of oxygen) conditions are created by the spreading, compacting and piling of waste.

Bleach and ammonia can also generate gases impacting on the quality of air within the landfill vicinity. Landfill sites can also produce highly odorous compounds and are generally a nuisance to residents.

ALSO READ: Vryheid dumpsite on fire, full story

Make sure you follow us on our social media platforms for regular updates