Wasting the Nation.indd - Groundwork

Chapter 6: Down at the dumpstime that the dump runs out of useable air-space. Thereafter, an engineered landfillis proposed for the same site adjacent to the present dump. There will, however, be ahiatus between closing the dump and opening the landfill, so the waste which presentlygoes to Boitshepi will have to be diverted. It seems doubtful that the other two dumpsin the area – Palm Springs and Waldrift – have the capacity to handle it.Boitshepi is now classified as a H:h site because, over its history, unknown types ofhazardous wastes have been dumped in unknown quantities. At present there are twoworking faces, one for general waste and another for industrial waste and it is not clearif it still officially receives class 3 and 4 hazardous waste. According to Redelinghuys,only industrial waste that has been de-listed, and arrives with a de-listing certificateat Boitshepi, can be disposed of there. However, according to the 2008 landfill auditreport, there is a two hour gap in the evening when there is access for dumping but no orvery little control (only a security guard, but no spotter or weighbridge operator). 101Boitshepi is forced to accept industrial waste, says Redelinghuys. One reason is thatan industrial waste exchange programme failed. This was a rare attempt to reducewaste by recycling from source on the principle that one industry’s waste could beanother industry’s resource. The programme was initiated by Emfuleni with supportfrom DEAT in 2006. It failed because industries refused to provide the necessaryinformation on their products and waste streams. They also voiced fears around thelegal implications of the chain of user responsibility and the definition of waste inNEMA. It is, of course, striking that dumping terminates all responsibility. The legalniceties seem aimed to keep it that way.Boipatong residents have complained to parliament that industrial waste and animalcarcases are dumped there along with general waste. One of the delegates, MolelekiFantisi, is a member of the VEJA waste team. He told parliament that the landfill is tooclose to people’s houses and that they suffer from the oppressive odours. A nightmarefor parents is that the dump is accessible to children.From the top of the dump it is clear that the Leeuspruit is taking a hammering. Astagnant water body just below the dump is choked with a sickly green growth. Thedump has no liner, but a partial ‘leachate system’ has been installed. This does not– as is theoretically required – consist of perforated pipes strategically placed inside101 Boitshepi Landfill 2 nd audit report, May 2008, prepared by Zitholele Consultants.Wasting the Nation - groundWork - 163 -