KNYSNA NEWS - Those who go past the Knysna Waste Transfer Station nowadays will probably stop to look again. The sight of a clean, empty facility has become unfamiliar in recent months.
Following the previous report on the situation at the waste transfer station, efforts were intensified to address the issue promptly and the mound of rubbish was cleared by the morning of 15 January.
The station required immediate attention to ensure the smooth functioning of waste disposal and transfer operations.
The authorities, in coordination with waste management personnel and relevant departments, worked diligently to clear the station.
The issues at Knysna Waste Transfer Station are nothing new to residents, who had been dealing with the negative impacts for a very long time.
"I welcome the clean-up at the waste transfer station," says Ward 10 Councillor Peter Bester. "The pile of refuse was not just a pile of refuse, it had a far-reaching impact on businesses surrounding the area.
"Restaurants and retail businesses lost business because of the stench. It attracts rats and other unwelcome elements."
Future planning is also being attended to. Knysna Municipality is looking at alternative solutions to the site as well as more economic methods of transferring and discarding the waste to avoid any further backlog.
Council and other concerned parties have raised the question of what it would cost to remove the waste transfer station and to relocate it to a less visible area.
"This site must be removed from its current position as a matter of urgency. We have the opportunity to get a waste-to-energy plant going in Knysna. I don't believe it will solve our energy problems, but it will solve our refuse/waste problems," says Bester.
The Western Cape Province, the Garden Route District Municipality and Premier Alan Winde have all been instrumental in the clean-up.
Bester had contacted Winde as well as various business owners in the area about the situation. In response, a team from the premier's administration came out to assess the situation.
A contractor was appointed and cleared the rubbish at the waste transfer station in two stages.
"This aligns with the action plan submitted to the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, which outlined a 14-day timeline for the completion of this task," says Municipal Manager Ombali Sebola.
A successful clean-up of the Knysna Waste Transfer Station ensures a fresh start for waste management in Knysna.
"To facilitate this process, the municipality engaged the services of a provider for the transportation of waste to PetroSA."
In a proactive measure towards the maintenance and repairs of the waste transfer facility, the municipal manager has appointed a committee.
An external service provider will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the facility and provide recommendations for necessary repairs and maintenance.
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