Govan Mbeki Municipality running out of space to dump waste

The municipality announced some of its landfill sites are closed or are nearing the end of their lifespan due to a growing population and towns, resulting in less land available for waste disposal.

GMM has eight licensed landfill sites of which only four are operational.

The municipality urged residents to recycle and earn a living by using its buyback centre at Ext 26, eMbalenhle and other privately-owned recycling centres around its jurisdiction.

The eMbalenhle buyback centre is currently used by the GMM women’s co-operative consisting of six women.

“We are selling our end products to major recyclers in Gauteng. The recycling business is difficult and one needs to be patient if you want it to be sustainable,” said Ms Nana Mokoena, a co-operative member.

“The challenge is that we are using money from our pockets to buy the required equipment, such as big bags that are daily in use. After we sell our product, we don’t eat the money but invest it to grow our business,“ she said.

According to Ms Mokoena, there are big businesses that always take their waste to the centre.

“Sasol also plays a major role in assisting us,” said Ms Mokoena.

The women in the co-operative encourage young people to group themselves and begin a recycling business to alleviate their unemployment challenge.