Wasting the Nation.indd - Groundwork
Wasting the Nation.indd - Groundwork
Wasting the Nation.indd - Groundwork
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Chapter 6: Down at <strong>the</strong> dumpstime that <strong>the</strong> dump runs out of useable air-space. Thereafter, an engineered landfillis proposed for <strong>the</strong> same site adjacent to <strong>the</strong> present dump. There will, however, be ahiatus between closing <strong>the</strong> dump and opening <strong>the</strong> landfill, so <strong>the</strong> waste which presentlygoes to Boitshepi will have to be diverted. It seems doubtful that <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r two dumpsin <strong>the</strong> area – Palm Springs and Waldrift – have <strong>the</strong> 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 <strong>the</strong>re are twoworking faces, one for general waste and ano<strong>the</strong>r 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 <strong>the</strong>re. However, according to <strong>the</strong> 2008 landfill auditreport, <strong>the</strong>re is a two hour gap in <strong>the</strong> evening when <strong>the</strong>re 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 <strong>the</strong> principle that one industry’s waste could beano<strong>the</strong>r industry’s resource. The programme was initiated by Emfuleni with supportfrom DEAT in 2006. It failed because industries refused to provide <strong>the</strong> necessaryinformation on <strong>the</strong>ir products and waste streams. They also voiced fears around <strong>the</strong>legal implications of <strong>the</strong> chain of user responsibility and <strong>the</strong> 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 <strong>the</strong>re along with general waste. One of <strong>the</strong> delegates, MolelekiFantisi, is a member of <strong>the</strong> VEJA waste team. He told parliament that <strong>the</strong> landfill is tooclose to people’s houses and that <strong>the</strong>y suffer from <strong>the</strong> oppressive odours. A nightmarefor parents is that <strong>the</strong> dump is accessible to children.From <strong>the</strong> top of <strong>the</strong> dump it is clear that <strong>the</strong> Leeuspruit is taking a hammering. Astagnant water body just below <strong>the</strong> 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 <strong>the</strong>oretically required – consist of perforated pipes strategically placed inside101 Boitshepi Landfill 2 nd audit report, May 2008, prepared by Zitholele Consultants.<strong>Wasting</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Nation</strong> - groundWork - 163 -