KNYSNA NEWS - Knysna businesses that want to dispose their garden refuse at the garden refuse dumpsite in Old Place will have to pay R409,24 per ton in order to get access to the site. These charges will be implemented from 1 February 2021.

In November, the municipality spent more than three weeks trying to extinguish an ongoing fire in the dumpsite. In addition, a padlock at the gate was cut and people were illegally dumping their garden refuse at the entrance of the site.

When Knysna-Plett Herald (KPH) visited the site recently, the refuse at the gate had been cleaned up and the gate was locked.

In a statement last week, the Acting Municipal Manager at the time, Louis Scheepers, said the decision was driven by a legislative requirement. "The Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning has confirmed the legislative requirement of diverting 50% of organic waste from regular waste disposal facilities (WDF) by 2022, and a complete ban on organic material from WDFs by the year 2027," said Scheepers.

To comply with this directive, the municipality needs to submit its organic waste diversion plan to the department in due course.

"Customers will first pay the relevant fee at the municipality's customer care centre at the Main Road and then present proof of payment at the OWDF before they are permitted entry," he said.

"If users are able to chip or shred material at their own premises, we ask that they do so. We are all responsible for looking after our planet. By properly sorting and disposing of waste, we can do so together," he said.

The disposal fee of R409,24 per ton is inclusive of Vat as quoted from the municipality's tariff book.

The full tariff schedule is available on the municipality's website, www.knysna.gov.za. For further information, contact Ramona Loxton on 044 302 6405 or e-mail rloxton@knysna.gov.za.

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