The state of the Western Cape’s landfill sites

AfriForum audited 127 landfill sites in all nine provinces this year as part of its national project to measure the standard of landfill sites in South Africa.

Only four out of nine landfill sites that were audited in the Western Cape have adhered to national standards. In terms of applicable legislation and regulations, including the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act no. 59 of 2008), a landfill site must adhere to particular standards.

This is how the best landfill sites compare to the worst:

The audit consists of a list of 33 questions that measure the minimum requirements for landfill sites in South Africa and includes factors such as access control, fires, medical waste, fencing and rehabilitation. A landfill site must obtain at least 80% to comply with legislation.

According to Deon de Jager, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for the Boland, most of the landfill sites in the Western Cape are in a shameful state. “Most landfill sites are in a shameful state that can mainly be attributed to mismanagement and in some towns the unhygienic conditions of landfill sites affect the health of residents of nearby neighbourhoods.”

AfriForum branches will also apply pressure on authorities in their areas to establish waste monitoring committees to improve the waste management process. These committees will consist of municipalities and interested parties wanting to improve waste management in a particular town.

The audit report will also be handed over to the Green Scorpions for further investigation and action against guilty municipalities. AfriForum will continuously monitor the process to ensure that landfill sites are brought to standard.