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Let’s not waste the future

By De Waal Steyn

With all waste now transferred to the Karwyderskraal Landfill Site many residents are rightfully concerned about the abrupt halt to waste recycling activities.

According to the Municipality the unfortunate fact is that the material recovery facility in Hermanus, including all the equipment, was destroyed during the riots, to such an extent that the repair and recommissioning thereof may take years to complete.

“The reality is that the conveyor belt that was used to sort through the waste has been so badly damaged that we have still not been able to repair it. Walker Bay Recycling which did the processing and baling, has been almost completely destroyed, so the most important actions of the recycling effort cannot be done,” says Johan.

If household waste is not sorted and baled it is very expensive to transport as especially unbaled plastic takes up a lot of space, but has almost no weight. Also, if the material is not sorted and baled it has virtually no commercial value. Neighbouring towns and the City of Cape Town are not interested in buying the waste from us for recycling purposes.

The Municipality said in a press release that the current situation, however, presents an opportunity to eventually move to a higher level of recycling and improved diversion of waste from landfill.

“Overstrand Municipality has commenced with a feasibility study to investigate the possibility of relocating the recycling facility to the Karwyderskraal Landfill Site. It would then be operated as a regional facility by the Overberg District Municipality, handling larger volumes, including waste from neighbouring towns in other municipalities. The report should be completed by the end of September 2018.

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