AfriForum audited 135 landfill sites nationwide this year as part of its national project to measure the standard of landfill sites in South Africa.
Only 1 of the 9 landfill sites that were audited in Limpopo adhered to national standards. In terms of applicable legislation and regulations, including the National Environmental Management: Waste Act 59 of 2008, a landfill site must adhere to specific standards.
This is how the best landfill sites compare to the worst:
| Name of branch/landfill site | Municipality/ Responsible authority | Licence number | Compliance score (%) | |||||||
| Limpopo | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | ||||
| Ellisras | Lephalale LM | – | – | – | 58 | 32 | 16 | 22 | ||
| Groblersdal | Elias Motsoaledi LM | 12/4//10-B/10M2 | 20 | 72 | 90 | 92 | 98 | – | ||
| Hoedspruit | Maruleng LM | – | – | – | 18 | 18 | 20 | – | ||
| Marble Hall | Ephraim Mogale LM | 16/2/7/B300/D58/ZI/P261 | 72 | 88 | 84 | 84 | 84 | 78 | ||
| Naboomspruit | Mookgophong LM | 16/2/7/A600/D7/Z2/P399 | 28 | 36 | 19 | 32 | 34 | 30 | ||
| Naboomspruit
(Western Breeze transfer station) |
Mookgophong LM | – | – | – | – | 20 | 20 | – | ||
| Naboomspruit
(Die Oog transfer station) |
Mookgophong LM | – | – | – | – | 32 | – | – | ||
| Nylstroom | Modimolle LM | 16/2/7/A600/D2/Z1/P380 | 48 | 16 | – | 12 | 0 | 4 | ||
| Phalaborwa | Ba-Phalaborwa LM | 16/2/7/B700/016/21/P276 | 84 | 80 | 32 | 64 | 36 | 54 | ||
| Leeupoort | Thabazimbi LM | 16/2/7/A240/D21/21/P354 | 52 | – | – | 2 | 4 | Toe | ||
| Louis Trichardt | Makhado LM | 12/9/11/L413/5 | – | 32 | 70 | 80 | 84 | Toe | ||
| Rooiberg | Thabazimbi LM | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0 | ||
| Thabazimbi | Thabazimbi LM | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0 | ||
| Tzaneen | Greater Tzaneen LM | 16/2/7/B800/D2/Z23/1/P501 | – | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 98 | ||
| Warm Baths | Bela-Bela LM | B33/2/123/3 | – | 56 | 40 | 37 | 40 | 38 | ||
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, rehabilitation etc. A landfill site must obtain at least 80% to comply with legislation.
According to Magdel Strauss, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for Limpopo, most of the landfill sites in Limpopo are in a shameful state. “This can mainly be attributed to municipalities’ failure to repair and maintain infrastructure and equipment of landfill sites.”
Strauss said that the most common problems AfriForum had identified during the audit had been the absence of waste management licences and the complete mismanagement of sites. “Most of the sites do not even have the necessary personnel or sufficient access control.”
AfriForum branches will also exercise 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. AfriForum will arrange a meeting with Barbara Creecy, Minister of Environmental Affairs, to identify sites that need to be restored and reach the necessary standards.
The audit report will also be submitted to the Green Scorpions for further investigation and action against non-compliant municipalities. AfriForum will continuously monitor the process to ensure that landfill sites are improved to reach the required standards.
Read the report here.