Moves to resolve crime and grime at Simmer and Jack Landfill Site welcomed

Ward 36 Clr Wendy Morgan praised the CoE’s efforts to rebuild the palisade wall on Main Reef Road at the Simmer and Jack Landfill Site.

Wychwood residents previously urged the city and law enforcement to step in and reduce the number of crimes in the area.

According to reports, criminals enter and escape the dump site through the gaps.

On several occasions, a gunfight between opposing zama zama groups broke out inside the waste site.

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The participants used the openings in the pallisade wall to cross Main Reef Road and enter Wychwood via Lobelia Road.

Locals frequently found bullets in their yards, which made them afraid to live in the area.

According to Morgan, the renovations will restrict the number of people crossing between Wychwood and the landfill site.

“Despite the ongoing shooting inside the landfill, locals are optimistic that there will be fewer crimes in the area, such as carjackings and housebreakings,” said Morgan.

“The foul odour emanating from the dump site at the start of this year was another problem.

“The contractors found it challenging to cover the rubbish with their machinery because of the recent rain,” she explained.

To make it easier for waste collectors to decide what they need to recycle, Morgan has asked locals to start recycling and categorising their waste appropriately.

The CoE has received questions from the GCN about day-to-day operations and site management.

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What the city had to say:

“The typical daily operations at the landfill site include waste intake, compaction and covering procedures.”

Daily operations:

“Trucks are weighed at the weighbridge on arrival. The designated disposal area is prepared daily for incoming waste, and waste disposed is spread, compacted and covered,” said city spokesperson Zweli Dlamini.

“We use the dozer to spread and cover the waste. We use a landfill compactor to compact the waste and the articulated dump truck (ADT) to transport cover material.

“We also use the excavator and water tanker to extract the cover material and suppress dust,” said Dlamini.

What safety protocols are there for workers and visitors to the landfill?

• Site rules are available for site users;
• Inductions for all new workers and visitors;
• Weekly toolbox talks on health and safety;
• Annual medical surveillance for onsite workers;
• Controlled access of visitors and others not working onsite.

How is the site monitored for hazards like gas emissions or leachate formation?

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Gas emissions:

• Annual monitoring of the gas landfill migration.
Leachate formation:

• There is a leachate drainage system on site;
• Generated leachate is drained into the leachate dam.
When asked what the process is for handling emergencies like fires or equipment malfunctions, Dlamini said the DEMS is notified immediately upon noticing a fire.

“Surface fires can be easily extinguished with water, whereas fires deeply embedded in the waste body require excavation equipment to expose the flames.

“It takes longer to extinguish deeply embedded fires because it is hard to control the spread within the waste body,” he said.

“It is the site operator’s responsibility to repair malfunctioning equipment. Technicians are called onto the site to attend to breakdowns as and when required.

“If, upon assessment, the downtime is estimated to be longer than a few days, the site operator must replace the affected equipment,” said Dlamini.

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What is the frequency and scope of the maintenance on the landfill site infrastructure?

“Maintaining the infrastructure on site is done as and when required. Minor repairs are done through the site operator’s contract and attended to as a need arises during the contract’s duration.

“Major infrastructure maintenance or upgrades are done through capital expenditure, meaning these items require funding through a normal budgeting process.”

When asked what key equipment and machinery is used in landfill operations are and how are they maintained, Dlamini said the dozer, landfill compactor, ADT, excavator, water tanker and chipper, as the main key machines/equipment, are needed for optimal functions.

“The site operator maintains these machines as per the manufacturer’s specifications.”

What caused the foul odour in recent days?

“Yes, the site has recently received several complaints regarding the smell. Smell normally emanates during and after rainy days. Wet waste usually brings this about,” said Dlamini.

“Wet conditions on rainy days make it difficult to cover the waste effectively. To mitigate the smell on rainy days, we increase the frequency of applying odour control chemicals that neutralise the smell,” he said.

How does the city ensure the landfill always complies with the relevant regulations and standards?

“Through routine monitoring and compliance checks, internal and external environmental audits, environmental monitoring (gas, water and leachate monitoring) and internal risk audits.

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“The long-term plans for upgrading or modernising the landfill site are to transition to more sustainable waste management practices.

“This will include, but not be limited to, introducing various waste-to-energy projects and enhancing waste minimisation practices, including separation at source, bio digestion of organic waste and more.”

What environmental monitoring systems are at the site, and what data do they collect?
• Environmental audits: Level of compliance;
• Groundwater monitoring: Accepted parameter levels;
• Landfill gas monitoring: Gas migration patterns and parameters;
• Occupational Health surveys artificial illumination, noise, heat stress, ventilation, thermal comfort and more.

How does the city collaborate with other agencies and stakeholders to ensure responsible environmental management?

The city partakes in these processes:

• External environmental audits;
• Annual community meetings or as and when necessary;
• Annual environmental audits by competent authorities or as and when the competent authority
deems so;
• Third-party audits by clients or interested and affected parties.

When asked about the site’s estimated lifespan and the plans for its closure and rehabilitation, Dlamini said the current lifespan is about six months without interventions and up to 24 months with interventions (minimising incoming waste, correcting the slopes, and more).

“On commissioning the proposed new cell, the site will have an estimated lifespan of five to six years, depending on the waste volumes received. Presently, there is no closure and rehabilitation plan because the landfill site and its location are expected to play a role in transitioning to sustainable waste practices,” said Dlamini.

“The city has appointed independent power producers to explore waste-to-energy opportunities at landfill sites in partnership with other stakeholders like the C40 South Africa Buildings Programme to enhance waste minimisation programmes in the city.

“The city is developing and finalising the Integrated Waste Management Plan with the Department of Forestry and Fisheries,” said Dlamini.

“Through the ward councillors, annual community meetings and public participation processes (integrated development planning), the long-term goals and objectives for the site are communicated to the public.

“To further communicate with the community and address any concerns, we communicate with them through their elected ward councillors, annual community meetings and the public participation process (IDP), including communicating the long-term goals and objectives for the landfill site.

“The main environmental challenge onsite is leachate (especially during excessive rain). We have built berms at the working face to contain the contaminated water within the waste body.

“When seepages from the slopes occur, the leachate is pumped to the leachate dam. We use a water tanker to suppress the dust, one of the main environmental challenges,” said Dlamini.