FEIR for Boitshepi Landfill Site .pdf - Zitholele.co.za

August 2010 1 88481 INTRODUCTIONAnthropogenic / human activities generate by-products which are seen as useless and arediscarded as waste. The increasing population growth accompanied by urbanisation andindustrialisation, have resulted in an increase in the volume of waste generated by society.Waste is associated with numerous environmental and social impacts as discussed in thisreport.It has been estimated that globally 95% of all urban waste is disposed of on land, either inopen trenches or in sanitary waste disposal sites. According to the Minimum Requirementsfor Disposal by Landfill, Second edition 3 (Department of Water Affairs 4 [DWA], 1998), everywaste disposal site must be licensed, designed, constructed, operated and closed accordingto the stipulated requirements. Furthermore, according to the National EnvironmentalManagement Waste Act (NEM:WA) of 2008 Section 26, (1) No person may—(a) dispose ofwaste, or knowingly or negligently cause or permit waste to be disposed of, in or on anyland, water body or at any facility unless the disposal of that waste is authorised by law.1.1 Background InformationThe Boitshepi Waste Disposal Site is located in Vanderbijlpark. The site is situated to theeast of Boipatong and to the west of Tshepiso, hence the name Boitshepi (Figure 1). Thesite is owned by Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM), managed by the Emfuleni LocalMunicipality (ELM) and is operated by Enviro-Fill.The site has been operational since the 1970s, prior to the Minimum Requirements forWaste Disposal by Landfill (DWA, 1998) and as a result Boitshepi was not developed oroperated in accordance with these requirements and has had a negative impact on thesurrounding environment.In February 1994, Jarrod Ball and Associates (JBA), specialist waste consultants, completeda Status Quo Analysis on the Boitshepi Waste Disposal Site. The study recommended someremedial measures, but these were not implemented and the situation at the sitedeteriorated.In September 1994, JBA was appointed, based on the recommendations of the Status QuoAnalysis, to proceed with the licensing, rehabilitation and closure of the waste disposal site.3 The Minimum Requirements for Waste Disposal by Landfill, third edition (DWA 2005) has been compiled, buthas not yet been promulgated. For this reason and for the purpose of this report, the Minimum Requirements forWaste Disposal by Landfill, second edition have been cited and referenced (DWA, 1998),4 The Department of Water Affairs (DWA) was previously known as the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry(DWAF).ZITHOLELE CONSULTING