Heritage Cases

The site is approximately 1.54 ha in extent and is expected to be classified as a GCB- site. It is unknown since when the site has been in operation. Moreover, the landfill site is neither licenced nor operated in accordance with accepted waste management norms. The Bojanala Platinum District Municipality’s IWMP stipulates that the Kgetlengriver Local Municipality generates an estimated annual waste quantity of 11 000 tons. The facility has poor access controls and waste is illegally being dumped next to the access road to the landfill site. Apart from the gravel access road, there is no infrastructure at the landfill site. It seems that the landfill site previously had some sort of access control at one stage. This was evident in a part of a wall that still remains at the site entrance. The site consists of areas where waste has been pushed into walls or berms of approximately 1.5 metres high and these areas are covered with a layer of topsoil and are heavily infested with alien species. Unlined trenches or holes (cavities) have been excavated in certain parts of the landfill site, where waste is currently disposed-off by the municipality. The trench (hole) that is currently used for waste disposal is rapidly approaching full capacity. Semi-filled trenches with ample capacity are available for waste disposal, however, access to these trenches are currently limited due to piles of soil restricting access. It is proposed that these cavities are filled up during the closure of the landfill site. The rest of the landfill site consists of waste that is disposed-off on the surface of the landfill site. Waste is illegally dumped next to the access road leading to the landfill site and also at the site entrance. Wind-blown waste and malodourous smells pose a nuisance to the residential area located West of the landfill site. Waste is currently not compacted or covered on a daily basis and no monitoring of ground water quality or potential landfill gas is conducted. The uncovered waste and associated wind-blown litter presents a negative aesthetic impact at the site and its surroundings. Additionally, evidence was observed of the burning of waste at the landfill site.