Shongweni waste being sent to Stanger landfill

Waste from the controversial Enviroserv landfill site at Shongweni is being dumped on the Dolphin Coast.

The recent closure of the EnviroServ landfill site raised concerns that similar sites in KZN, including KwaDukuza’s own landfill, would now have to treat the waste previously handled there.

Also read: Dolphin Coast home to largest landfill in the southern hemisphere

The main concern being that the odour and health issues that have plagued it would spread.

The community surrounding the Shongweni site had complained about a “toxic stink” that they said was responsible for a range of ailments affecting those living nearby.

The Environmental Affairs department (DEA) closed the sight in April, until they are satisfied that appropriate remedial measures have been put in place.

However, DCLM technical and environmental manager Kyle Gaffar said they apply stringent and internationally recognised procedures to minimise issues such as odour and ensure that the site poses no health risks to those nearby.

“All hazerdous waste collected, treated and disposed of at the KwaDukuza site is handled according to strict policies prescribed by national legislation, DCLM’s own licence and International Standard of Organization (ISO) 14001 (Environmental), OSHAS (Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series) 18001 – an internationally applied British standard for occupational health and safety management systems.

“All waste disposed at the KwaDukuza landfill site is handled in an appropriate manner to ensure compliance with all of the aforesaid policies and procedures, in particular, legislation,” said Gaffar.

Samples of the hazardous waste streams are analyzed at an accredited laboratory in order to confirm the treatment method to be applied to the waste stream on the day of disposal.

When the waste arrives it is tested again to double check that the proper treatment will be implemented.

However, there have been questions about smells from the DCLM site.

“People in Princes Grant estate nearby the dump complain that from time to time that they get a smell of rotten eggs, kids in the area even call it ‘Stinky Stanger’,” said regular local holidaymaker, Tara Barnard.

Landfills have a responsibility to ensure the mitigation of odour and nuisance conditions where reasonably practicable, as they receive odorous waste streams in the form of putrescible waste from certain industries.

When The Courier visited the site earlier this month, there was no particularly strong smell.

“The utmost care is taken at all times to avoid the occurrence of odour,” Gaffar told The Courier.

“Putrescible and other odorous waste is treated and covered immediately or pre-treated at the generator’s site to mitigate odour nuisances.”

Air quality monitoring at DCLM is conducted by an independent specialist, monitors have been erected at the site of the landfill and deoderisers placed on the boundary of the site, among other measures.

“DCLM have also sourced a suitable treatment technology for the leachate produced on site as well as other effluents, in collaboration with engineers from the United States of America and the University of Berkley,” said Gaffar.

“It goes without saying that odour is a major concern for landfill sites across the world.”

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