Audits of landfill sites in Western Cape both shocking and surprising

afriforumAs part of their National Campaign, #cleanSA in June 2014, AfriForum audited nine dumping sites in the Western Cape and found the results to be both pleasing and troubling. These audits were handled by Provincial Coordinators for AfriForum who visited the landfill sites where they completed a standard questionnaire.

Amongst other things, these sites should be in possession of a waste management license, it must be properly fenced, access control must be on standard and waste must be compacted and covered with ground on a daily basis to prevent the waste from blowing away.

A total of nine landfill sites were audited in the Western Cape during the course of the campaign, however only three sites met the national standards. Landfill sites that performed the best are the Karwyderskraal site in Hermanus and the Great Brak River site in Mossel Bay, which both scored 96%.  The landfill sites in Ladismith and Worcester also performed well with 72% and 80% respectively.

Municipal landfill sites which didn’t meet the standards are:

  1. Oudtshoorn                            36%
  2. Saldanha Bay                         36%
  3. Clanwilliam                            44%
  4. Vredendal (Matzikama)          36%
  5. Citrusdal                                32%

“Although it’s good to see that some municipalities take waste management seriously, it is concerning to see others blatantly ignoring national requirements,” said Stefan Pretorius, Provincial Coordinator for AfriForum in the Western Cape.

“The landfill sites in the Western Cape which didn’t qualify were in perilous conditions due to poor management by the municipalities. Most of them were neglected and in a deteriorating state,” adds Pretorius.

AfriForum will send warnings to the municipalities that failed the audits. They need to be addressed and landfill sites need to be brought on standard.

Join AfriForum and SMS the name of your town to 45265 (R1).

Stefan Pretorius
Provincial Coordinator: Western Cape
AfriForum
Cell: 084 324 3347
Email: stefan.pretorius@afriforum.co.za

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