EDEN DISTRICT NEWS - The Western Cape department of environmental affairs and development planning has noted with concern, comments made by the leadership of several local municipalities in the Eden District relating to the establishment of a new regional waste landfill site (RWDF) in Mossel Bay.
The purpose of the site is to serve the communities of Knysna, George, Bitou and Mossel Bay.
Western Cape environmental affairs minister Anton Bredell says the project is a top priority because an existing contract with PetroSA – which allows municipalities to dispose waste at the PetroSA facility – ends on 31 July 2018.
“There is currently no other landfill airspace available in the area.
"Should the RWDF not be established it will be environmentally disastrous for these municipalities,” warns Bredell.
The project to investigate the establishment of an RWDF was initiated in 2007 by the Eden District municipality after full consultation with all the affected local municipalities.
Read a related article: New landfill can't be dumped
Bredell says the department has repeatedly warned the affected municipalities since the project was initiated in 2007, that the establishment of the RWDF will result in an increase in the cost of waste management for the municipalities and that they should also invest in the establishment of integrated waste management infrastructure to recover waste material and to minimise the waste that has to be disposed of.
The department has also continuously provided technical advice and assistance to affected municipalities when required.
'Few municipalities complying'
“Very few of the affected municipalities prioritised the establishment of the waste management infrastructure.”
The cost to establish the RWDF was further negatively impacted by the country adopting new norms and standards for landfills in August 2013.
“My department and I are working closely with the national Department of Environmental Affairs to review the latest norms and standards for landfill sites in the hopes of making it more affordable for municipalities to establish waste disposal facilities. These consultations remain ongoing.”
The head of the Western Cape department of environmental affairs Piet van Zyl said disposal of waste and any related cost are constitutionally mandated to be the responsibility of the relevant local municipality.
“Given rapid population growth and urbanisation, the growing waste disposal problem is one the provincial government is monitoring with a keen eye.
"However, local communities and their municipalities must accept the responsibility to deal with waste management, as mandated by law, lies with them.
"This includes driving programmes like minimisation of waste, recycling and budgeting sufficiently for waste management,” said Van Zyl.
Bredell said efficiently run municipalities remain key to delivering the services needed to make the province a better place for all who live in it.
“The establishment of this site is vital… Given the urgency of this project that is at a critical stage, the department and I will not hesitate to act if local authorities do not cooperate and comply with their constitutional mandate.
"In the Western Cape we are proud of our leaders who understand they serve the communities of today and tomorrow.”
Comment from MM Kam Chetty
In the light of the fact that that Knysna municipality, notwithstanding their constitutionally mandated responsibility to dispose of waste and cover any related cost, does not have a facility to dump rubble and must pay for the use of the private facility, and the municipal manager has previously told the Knysna-Plett Herald that no land is available for use as additional waste management sites, comment was requested as to what the municipality's stance is concerning the proposed establishment of the landfill facility and whether they support the initiative.
"Council is committed to the regional landfill site and is budgeting accordingly. We have a garden waste site in Old Place available free of charge for residents.
"Building rubble may be disposed of at the private sites at Harkerville or Blaricum Heights, Simola. Disposal fees are R25 (plus VAT) per cubic metre and R40 (plus VAT) per LDV load. Mixed loads will be sorted at R325 per cubic meter."
The queries pertaining to what measures are being put in place to comply with their constitutional mandate, and when it is anticipated that a dump for rubble will be available, remained unanswered at the time of going to print.
ARTICLE: JULIE JEFFERYS, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD CORRESPONDENT
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