KNYSNA NEWS - After numerous complaints from citizens, the municipality this week offered clarity concerning the Knysna Waste Transfer Centre (WTC), saying it is a vital component of the municipality's waste management programme, and has received a 71,6% audit compliance in the 2019/2020 audit.
Acting Municipal Manager Dawid Adonis said the location of the centre, in Auction Mart Ave in central Knysna, was chosen in 1999 for its proximity to the railway line, used at the time to transfer waste to regional landfill sites.
"Operations at the site are audited on an annual basis - the centre received a 71, 6% audit compliance in the 2019/2020 audit, and the next one is due shortly."
He said the refuse trucks daily deliver the refuse collected to the transfer station, where it is compacted and then transported by delivery trucks to the regional landfill sites.
"The WTC is a crucial part of the municipality's waste management programme. After considerable flood damage to the railway line in 2006, trucks replaced the trains. The prime objective of the site is to reduce transport costs between a service area and the regional landfill site, but it also has added advantages as it gives us the opportunity to remove hazardous waste and recyclables that were not separated before," he said.
Adonis said although waste transfer stations are a vital component of modern waste management programmes, locations can cause concern in local communities regarding noise pollution, bad odour and litter around the site.
"This has also been the case with the Knysna WTC. Most of the public's concerns can be addressed through a variety of short-term interventions. A suitable WTC site must meet stringent conditions and factors that are considered are the environmental impact, noise, dust and odour interference, social impact and planning, zoning and landownership, current and projected volumes and waste streams. And of course, the cost, estimated to be in the region of R22-million based on the construction of the Plettenberg Bay Facility in 2016," he said.
"The municipality simply cannot afford to move the centre, and as the current WTC is effective and receives high compliance ratings, there is no immediate need to."
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