EDEN DISTRICT NEWS - Five municipalities in the Eden District have committed to financing a new regional landfill facility in Mossel Bay. The project will be rolled out in different stages over a period of 10 to 25 years.
The first stage includes a hazardous waste and green waste chipping or composting area, and is expected to be completed by October 2019. A biofuel plant might be added at a later stage (read more about this on p.14)
The project's combined cost of R50,5-million for the first year will be shared between the Bitou, George, Knysna, Mossel Bay and Hessequa municipalities, with George paying the lion's share of almost R20-million.
Eden Mayor Memory Booysen and a delegation from the Eden District Municipality presented the project proposal to the standing committee on Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the provincial parliament on Tuesday 10 April.
MPL Tertuis Simmers said he is pleased with this development, as it will further assist the municipalities to effectively deal with waste, while also protecting residents and the environment.
He welcomes the public private partnership (PPP) that has been formed between the respective municipal councils and the private sector.
"This unique PPP has helped municipalities save a combined cost of more than R40-million for this project," said Simmers.
The new regional landfill facility will, during the construction phase, create approximately 500 temporary jobs, followed by 50 permanent jobs thereafter.
Simmers promised to engage with Anton Bredell, provincial minister of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, to ensure that Kannaland and Oudtshoorn municipalities will also be able to make use of this facility.
Other points raised
- Participating municipalities must implement minimisation initiatives in their respective municipal areas, like saving on transport cost of waste.
- Eden DM in collaboration with USAID:SA Low Emission Development is in the process of developing an organic waste characterisation study which will be followed by an organic waste alternative technology study.
- Eden DM has conducted waste characterisation studies on the municipal waste still going to landfill to indicate the portion that can be recycled.
- Eden DM must develop a waste minimisation study and action plan in collaboration with the municipalities, which is to be included in the integrated waste management plan.
- A hydrocarbon recycling plant at the landfill site is included in the preferred bidder tender.
'We bring you the latest George, Garden Route news'
