GEORGE NEWS - George Municipality started constructing a composting facility in the 2019/2020 financial year.
During a visit to the construction site on Wednesday 11 May, Mayor Leon van Wyk expressed his satisfaction with the progress made on the first platform of the new composting facility. He commended the team from Community Services who initiated the project.
"I would also like to thank the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) workers on site for their invaluable input in making this project a success," said Van Wyk.
In June 2021, the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries promulgated "Norms and Standards for the Treatment of Organic Waste".
One of the standards that must be met is that the final platform layer works must contain a concrete platform or include a clay layer within its layer structure.
Van Wyk confirmed that the construction is in line with this requirement: "Effectively, builder's rubble is used to fill the ground to the desired level whereafter a layer of clay is laid on top, and the working surface will consist of a wearing course material classified as G5, according to Committee of Land Transport Officials (Colto) specifications.
"The idea is that the green bags that are collected from residents every week will go into a source which will make up compost. Eventually, we are going to add garden refuse, kitchen waste and sludge from the sewerage works to create the compost. This is all to reduce the amount of refuse going into landfill sites in the municipal area."
He said work is already underway to expand the size of the platform for future use. A green bag levy will be introduced so that residents, as custodians of our environment, can become part of maintaining the balance that is critical in nature. "The levy will provide the funding to launch this project and to make a success of George becoming a Green City."
Timelines
The Department of Community Services has given the assurance that the construction of phase 1 of platform A of the composting facility will be finalised in the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 financial years. Sivuyile Mtila, senior manager for environmental services, said Phase 2 of platform A is also underway.
"The public is requested to divert and dispose of builder's rubble at the Gwaiing waste disposal facility to assist the municipality in finalising phase 2 of platform A," he said.
"An attenuation pond will be constructed in the 2022/2023 financial year to treat and store storm water run-off. Platform A will only be able to accommodate 76% of the George Municipality's green waste. However, once platform B is built, all green waste will be accommodated.
"The maximum number of windrows that platform A can accommodate is 13. This equals a maximum volume of 2 486 m3. The average volume of compost produced for six weeks is 243 m3," he said.
The municipality urges the public to bring all builder's rubble to the Gwaiing landfill site to be used in the construction of the compost facility.
"We also urge the community to use the three-bag system to the benefit of reducing the landfill footprint. All three bags must be placed out on the same day on the designated refuse collection day," said Mtila.
The municipality intends to operate the compost facility from 1 July 2023.
George Municipality started establishing a composting facility in the 2019/2020 financial year. From left are Yolandi Herald, Lesley Figland, Gert Frieslaar, Glenton Malan, Christiaan Terblanche,
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