MEGA REGIONAL WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITY FOR MOSSEL BAY

The Local Municipalities of George, Mossel Bay, Knysna and Bitou are currently using a privately owned Petro SA site as a waste facility. This facility has reached its useful life and there is no other suitable facility in the region that can accommodate these municipalities.

In response to this pressing issue, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) is constructing a game-changer Regional Waste Management Facility in Mossel Bay to accommodate these municipalities.

As per Section 84 (1)(d) (iii) of the South African Local Government: Municipal Structures Act 117 of 1998, as amended, the GRDM is responsible for the establishment, and control of waste disposal sites, bulk waste transfer facilities and waste disposal facilities for more than one local municipality in the area.

It therefore makes sense for the GRDM to pursue this mega project. It is planned for the facility to include a Class B general waste cell and a Class A hazardous waste cell. Both these will include the associated composite liner systems, drainage systems and ancillaries as required by the National Environmental Management Waste Act, Act 59 of 2008 and the Norms and Standards for Disposal of Waste to Landfill (R636 of 23 August 2013). The general waste cell will have a lifespan of approximately 20 -25 years, based on the current waste disposal rates. The licensed project site includes available space for future cell development that could reach an estimated lifespan of an additional 32 years - should the need arise.

Further provisions have been made for an area that will include a materials recovery facility (MRF), a composting area and an area for the processing of construction and demolition waste (builder’s rubble). Other infrastructure like roads, storm water pipelines, a leachate storage dam, a contaminated stormwater dam, offices, a laboratory, a weighbridge, security infrastructure and a training centre where schools and interest groups can be accommodated, will also be constructed on the site.

To get to this point, Service Level Agreement ls with local municipalities had to be formulated, because the project is financed through loan funding. The loan will be repaid by billing the participating municipalities with cost reflective waste disposal tariffs. As it stands, construction is progressing significantly. A service provider will soon be appointed to operate and maintain the facility for a period of 10-years.

“The facility is a significant step towards more sustainable waste management and environment-friendly practices in a world affected by climate change and an increase in communicable diseases.” - GRDM executive mayor, Memory Booysen