Delmas landfill site undergoes a positive change
“SBBC provides jobs to about 70 people from the community and I see a healthy form of recycling. There is also better access control as well as overall dumping control.”
The Sundra Buy Back Centre (SBBC) has since the beginning of March been the new service provider for the operation and maintenance of the local landfill site.
According to Pina Ferrante, SBBC is a family-owned business which mainly deals with recycling and waste management.
Only five weeks after SBBC took over the landfill management, they invited Streeknuus to attend an oversight visit with Diane Bath, DA councillor in the Victor Khanye Local Municipality (VKLM) and Annerie Weber, DA member of the parliamentary portfolio for the environment, fisheries and forestry.
The oversight visit on April 20 followed after Streeknuus received a complaint from Arthur Rozana, a concerned member and spokesperson for ActionSA in the Victor Khanye Local Municipality.
There were allegations that the Botleng/Delmas landfill site was a hazard to the environment and the residents of the VKLM.
Rozana informed Streeknuus there were no management or control measures for waste at the dumping site and that apart from air pollution, there was also a possibility of water pollution because they dump substances like oil and grease at the site. (Streeknuus, March 31).
Landfill sites are renowned for causing environmental and health issues, so municipalities must appoint a contractor to manage them efficiently and safely.
During the oversight visit, it was evident that significant progress has been made since SBBC took over the management.
“The progress was visually pleasing and a great amount of work was done to the previously neglected and hazardous site,” said Bath.
There was previously no proper access control and/or security on site. SBBC was repairing the entrance gate and a security guard was on site.
Dumping took place at the gate and there was no entrance to the landfill site itself.
“We have been working hard to clean up the mess at the entrance and have come a long way in five weeks,” said Ferrante, co-owner of SBBC.
He also told Streeknuus a lot still has to be done, but progress has been remarkable and with the help of VKLM, the waste pickers and the general workers’ progress is evident.
During the oversight visit, it was clear the Ferrantes have a good relationship with the waste pickers and a definite knowledge of the recycling progress.
“We let the pickers do their form of recycling first before we start to process the waste. In this way, we contribute to job creation to provide an income for our own people,” said Pina.
He also assured the DA representatives they may dump no oil or other hazardous materials like old tyres on the landfill site.
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Even though Rozanne presented evidence of fires on the landfill site, the Ferrantes assured Streeknuus that, since they took over, no fires were allowed on site.
Weber told Streeknuus they surprised her with the progress over the five weeks since SBBC took over.
“SBBC provides jobs to about 70 people from the community. I see a healthy form of recycling. There is also better access control, as well as overall dumping control,” said Weber.
“I also wish to thank VKLM for their support in making the current landfill site a safer place.”
