The Lovu Landfill Site is leading the way in terms of waste management.
Representatives of the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) and Toti Conservancy toured the facility in Lower Illovo on Tuesday, 1 March.
DSW deputy head of the plant and engineering, John Parkin and senior manager of engineering, Logan Moodley said the facility, which was opened in June 2014, is the leader in in environmental best practices such as odour control, wind scatter fences, plant rescue and relocation of indigenous vegetation, leachate treatment and the reuse of top soil.
“We see the site as an ongoing research and development base of the treatment of leachate, which will lead the industry in the future,” said Logan.
Leachate is a wastewater which forms from the biological degradation of refuse.
The site, which handles up to 250 tons of waste per day, but can handle double that, is classed as a general landfill site accepting general municipal refuse, non-hazardous waste, which includes garden refuse and builders rubble.
With a landfill footprint of 30 hectares, the site services the South from Umkomaas to Toti.
The first phase consisted of the construction of the infrastructure and cell one, while the second phase, which is currently underway, is the leachate treatment plant and cell two.
Various odour control systems are in place and during the tour, everybody remarked on the lack of anticipated smells. “The secret is good compaction of the refuse with immediate cover using sand as it is brought in and we also disperse an enzyme solution over the waste body,” said Logan.
The two cells, massive dug-out areas where the refuse is landfilled and compacted, are lined with a composite lining (barrier) system containing natural clay, geo-synthetic clay lining and finally high density polyethylene to prevent leakage of leachate into the groundwater and receiving environment.
The adjacent area of the cells have wind scatter fences, which prevent wind-blown refuse from being blown into the neighbouring sugarcane fields and residential area.
Seedlings from plants and trees displaced by the construction of the cells are rescued and seen as ‘environmental assets’ and are grown in a holding nursery. These will be planted on site. Soil, clay and rocks are also reused. Bark mulch received on site is used as a resource in dressing cell sides.
At the current rate of filling, it should take about three years to fill the first cell and the entire footprint has a lifespan of about 30 years.
The leachate, once it is treated, will be used for dust suppression on the landfill haul roads and re-used for irrigation on selected areas of the site,” said Logan.
“In the near future we are in the process of planning a public recycling drop facility for residents to bring in separately-collected clean recyclables such as plastic, cardboard and bottles.”
The Lovu Landfill Site can be utilised by private individuals once an account has been opened with eThekwini Municipality.
