MUNICIPAL FUNCTIONS
3.8.6 WASTE MANAGEMENT, REFUSE COLLECTIONS, WASTE DISPOSAL AND RECYCLING
3.8.6.6 Waste Disposal and Waste Minimisation
Construction of new MRF and Drop-Off
The construction phase of the new Material Recovery Facility (MRF) and associated Public Drop-off Facility commenced during 2019/20 financial year. The facility, once completed, will comprise a waste reception area (with a weighbridge), MRF building (with fixed plant comprising conveyors and sorting line and two baling machines) public drop off (for small loads of waste) and staff facilities. Completion is due in November 2020.
New MRF building under construction
Green waste chipping
Green waste is being received at Franschhoek Drop Off and Stellenbosch Landfill. As the landfill site is where all the green waste is gathered, the appointed contractor to provide a chipping service such waste.
Door to door recycling collection
Recycling collections and operations are managed by Stellenbosch Municipality with the help of various contractors that supply vehicles in order to do door to door collections. Recyclables are collected in clear plastic bags made with recycled materials on every day of the week around the Stellenbosch Municipal area as well on farms and businesses in the surrounding area. Upon collection new clear bags are provided for each bag collected in order to ensure that all residents are able to recycle on a weekly basis.
The pre-mature ending of services of an appointed contractor in the last quarter of the financial year;
offered challenges in rendering this service, and a resultant decline in recycling initiatives. With the completion of a MRF located in WC024 (by end 2020) the education and awareness activities should be mobilised to support minimisation of waste in all areas of WC024.
Disposal
Stellenbosch landfill
The Stellenbosch landfill situated in Devon Valley Road is essentially in care and maintenance phase and receives limited waste. Cell three has filled up since August 2019. Work is currently under way to license a new cell at the site (see details below).
Due to the lack of landfill airspace in Stellenbosch, the transfer of all general waste to the private landfill situated in the City of Cape Town area at Vissershok commenced during August 2019.
A tender process was followed for waste disposal facilities and this was awarded to the Vissershok Waste Management facility (VWMF).
All waste that was delivered by either SM owned municipal vehicles or by way of a sub-contractors working for SM as well as private users was transferred from Klapmuts transfer station to VHWMF for disposal.
Photo: Stellenbosch landfill entrance
Stellenbosch Landfill rubble crushing and landfill side slope rehabilitation
Klapmuts Transfer Station
The Klapmuts Refuse Transfer Station has a design capacity of 150 tons per day transfer capacity. Since August 2019 this facility has been utilised at near capacity to transfer waste to VHWMF. Waste from all areas will be transported in collection vehicles and will be transferred into open top 30m3 bins for onward transport using 3 containers at a time by way of bulk transport to Vissershok Waste Management Facility.
The transfer of waste to and through Klapmuts RTS commenced during August 2019 and for the period up to 30 June 2020 a total of 31 260 ton of general waste was transferred.
Klapmuts Transfer Station waste reception apron
Franschhoek drop off
The Franschhoek Drop-off facility continued to provide a service to the residents of Franschhoek and surrounds to dispose of the garden waste and bulky goods. A contractor is appointed to transport garden waste to Stellenbosch Landfill and bulky waste to Vissershok Private Landfill.
Relocation of Eskom Power Lines
The Stellenbosch landfill situated on the Devon Valley is transversed by two high voltage Eskom power lines. The presence of these power lines prevents the municipality from engineering and operating the area located between cells 1, 2 and 3 as waste disposal cells. This has resulted in the premature filling up of the facility which was put into care and maintenance phase with limited waste acceptance since August 2019.
In order to relocate the two sets of power lines an appointment was made of an environmental assessment practitioner (EAP) to undertake a Basic Assessment (BA) process that would lead to an application for an environmental authorisation allowing Eskom to proceed with the relocation project.
This project commenced during the previous financial year making use of an existing panel tender. The project commenced during June 2019 and the Final Basic Assessment Report was submitted to national Department of Environment as planned during June 2020.
As Eskom is an organ of state and the project deals with the generation and transmission of electricity, the competent authority for this project is the National Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF).
It is anticipated that the Environmental Authorisation as well as the Water Use License will be issued by the end of November 2020.
Photo: Two sets of high voltage power lines to be relocated from the Stellenbosch Landfill
Waste Management Licence project
The Stellenbosch landfill has reached capacity. The landfill comprises completed cells (cell 1 and 2) as well as an operating cell (cell 3). Cell 3 is separated from cells 1 and 2 by an area on the landfill property footprint that is used for access roads, entrance area and weighbridge, green waste chipping and rubble crushing and stockpiling activities. This area has been unused as it is transferred by two high voltage Eskom power lines which are to be removed and repositioned. This area has been identified as
possibly suitable for the establishment through design and construction of engineered cells to be operated for the acceptance for disposal of residual general waste which has not been recycled or recovered for energy purposes, this will add some 20 to 30 years of landfill airspace.
The appointment of an EAP was made using the existing panel tender in terms of which a request for technical proposal was requested and an appointment was made of a specialist environmental consultant to successfully carry out all required environmental processes including relevant specialist studies by way of a comprehensive BA process to successfully obtain the Waste Management License that will allow the municipality to proceed with the planning, design, construction and operation of further waste management cells. In addition, the appointed professional service provider must also review and do the necessary work if required for the updating of the Water Use License of the site (WULA). The project was initiated during June 2019 and it is anticipated in spite of delays experienced due to the lack of boreholes and the national COVID-19 lock down the BAR will be completed ready for public participation by end of December 2020. The final BAR will be submitted early in 2021 and the WML and WUL should be issued early in the second semester of the 2020/21 financial year.
A series of new boreholes were drilled to ensure that the design report to be completed, this included boreholes for the new cell 4 as well as additional boreholes for the monitoring of the closed cells 1 and 2 as well as cell 3.
Photos: borehole being drilled as well as completed borehole
The Devon Valley Landfill Site received the following quantities of waste which was recorded by the weighbridge at the site:
Table 3:17: Landfill statistics for incoming waste in tons for 2019/20 financial year Total Waste at
Dvls Per Month
Jul-19 Aug-
19 Sep-19 Oct-19 Nov-19 Dec-19 Jan-20 Feb-20 Mar-20 Apr-20 May-20 Jun-20
17 852 10 063 21 200 6 448 6 844 4 483 5 630 4 721 5 310 412 2 909 6 710
Waste Received at DVL Per Month
Jul-19 Aug-
19 Sep-19 Oct-19 Nov-19 Dec-19 Jan-20 Feb-20 Mar-20 Apr-20 May-20 Jun-20 Building
Rubble 2 613 2 155 2 071 2 791 2 899 3 339 3 324 2 892 3043 21 988 3 019
Garden Waste 392 234 14 829 362 379 239 578 554 495 23 274 863
Clean Cover 8 171 2 854 982 1 762 2 777 438 968 599 770 0 444 1 352
Area Cleaning 510 781 650 652 441 227 264 418 618 325 1 055 1 240
Domestic
Refuse 4 123 2 885 1 621 364 154 131 272 106 157 29 76 1
Industrial
Refuse 481 720 459 368 195 110 161 152 130 12 67 111
Waste Removed and / or Beneficiated
Jul-19 Aug-
19 Sep-19 Oct-19 Nov-19 Dec-19 Jan-20 Feb-20 Mar-20 Apr-20 May-20 Jun-20
Green Waste 392 234 14 829 362 379 239 578 554 495 23 274 863
Recyclables
Out 75 90 82 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Bricks Out 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
The table above refers only to incoming waste which was captured over the weighbridge as incoming loads and waste removed, or beneficiated, for the 2019/20 financial year.
The total waste received at the landfill site was 92 582 tons, compared to the corresponding period a year ago, which was 219 896 tons. This indicates a decrease of 58%.
The main reason for this is the limitation in airspace at the landfill, and thus from August 2019 general waste was being re-directed to Klapmuts Transfer Station and then transported and disposed of at Vissershok Private Landfill. This changed the composition of waste material on site to the extent that recyclables were no longer available to informal waste pickers on site.
The other fluctuation in waste volumes is due to economic activities that were limited during lockdown.
It is interesting to note that area cleaning / illegal dumping has increased dramatically. The high rate of unemployment and more people / families are at home and waste generated is not disposed of responsibly, may be a reason for this.
Projects continued in the 2019/20 financial year but initiated in previous financial year(s):
Landfill gas extraction, flaring and electricity generation:
Previous investigations into landfill gas showed that it is feasible to harvest landfill gas from the closed and active cells and convert this to electricity. Carbon offset projects are a way in reducing the carbon footprint of a municipality, thus there are benefits in investing in carbon reduction projects, which can assist in making a town carbon neutral.
Many of the carbon offset projects may provide additional benefits such as biodiversity, education, jobs, food security, as well as much needed income for developing countries.
A Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project undertaken with registration under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) could unlock CDM income for the Stellenbosch Municipality though the sale of certified carbon credits measured as Certified Emission Reduction credits (CERs). These CERs can be traded and sold, and used by industrialised countries to a meet a part of their emission reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol. In addition, South Africa has established a system that allows subsidies for green energy projects in return for tax incentives (carbon tax) for investor companies including municipalities.
The Department of Minerals and Energy has established a renewable energy finance and subsidy office (REPSO) to assist developers.
Investigations into the best mechanism to take this project forward have been undertaken. Starting from scratch is both expensive and time consuming, so the most financially viable way ahead with the Stellenbosch Municipal landfill gas to electricity project will be to link into the City of Cape Town’s UNFCCC approved Programme of Activities (POA). Being part of an established POA will have many benefits, including financial and time, for the Stellenbosch Municipality.
A letter seeking permission was sent from the Municipal Manager’s office to the City Manager in this regard. A positive response was received and the Stellenbosch Municipality will embark in the 2020/21 financial year on the viability and eligibility study to make certain that the project is viable and that the benefits of linking with the POA can be realised.
Compliance Internal audits
Internal audits are due to be conducted quarterly in the months of March, June, September and December by Head Office waste management staff. This is a regulatory requirement. However due to the fact that the Senior Manager: Waste Management left the municipality, two internal audits were not finalised and written up. One was carried out in May 2020.
External audits
For disposal facilities (landfills and transfer stations) to be operated in compliance with the relevant legislation, all landfills must be licenced and managed according to the conditions in the licence. These management practices must also be compliant with the Norms and Standards in terms of the National Environmental Management Waste Act (NEMWA) as well as with certain sections of Minimum Requirements for Waste Disposal by Landfill (DWAF, 1998), and other relevant regulations.
To be able to assess whether waste management practices are according to all stated conditions, landfill owners must, on a regular basis (at least once per annum), obtain the services of an external auditor to do an independent landfill compliance audit.
To ensure compliance, external audits have been undertaken by an independent specialist consultant, at the Stellenbosch landfill and at the Klapmuts Transfer Station, in accordance with waste management licence conditions. Six months later a review of the audit finding to ascertain improvements have been carried out. The independent auditor reported back to the municipality as well as to the Monitoring Committee. Most of the permit conditions are compliant, with the exception of storm water monitoring, groundwater monitoring and gas monitoring. All of the non-compliances are being addressed with establishment of a new borehole monitoring network as well as appointments for ground water and landfill gas monitoring. All required boreholes were implemented in the 2019/20
financial year as part of the specialist studies undertaken, and gas monitoring will be incorporated with the methane extraction project also listed in the 2020/21 financial year.
Monitoring Committee
All landfills are established and operated in terms of a waste management license (WML) issued by either the national or Provincial Department of the Environment. In terms of the WML landfills are required to establish a Monitoring Committee. The objective of the Monitoring Committee is to provide a forum to enable the community to effectively participate in and monitor the operation, rehabilitation, closure and on-going monitoring of a landfill.
The Stellenbosch landfill has an active monitoring Committee that meets every three months. The committee is chaired by a representative of the community and minutes are prepared by the municipality. Monitoring Committee meetings are attended by DEA&DP officials as well as officials of various Municipal Departments as and when required. The independent external auditor also attends the meeting as and when required to report on the findings of the annual external as well as the review audit.
Waste Managers Officers Forum
The Waste Management Officer (WMO) for the Stellenbosch Municipality is the Senior Manager: Waste Management. Quarterly meetings of the Provincial Waste Managers Officers forum take place at various venues across the Province. The WMO attends the meeting and reports back on activities within the municipality – this also provides a forum to receive information from Provincial officials and for networking with WMOs from other municipalities within the province.
Studies and strategies
Waste Characterisation study
In order to understand the Stellenbosch waste stream and make decisions based on recent data and composition, a comprehensive waste characterisation study was undertaken. This was completed during 2019/20 financial year.
Outcomes of waste characterisation study – broad categories data
Outcomes of waste characterisation study – detailed data
Review of IWMP
A comprehensive review and updating of the Integrated Waste Management Plan of the municipality was initiated during 2019/20. This will be completed in the next financial year and submitted for approval to Council.
MSA Section 78(3) report
A section 78(3) investigation was undertaken as mandated under the MSA.
This investigation is undertaken to inform Council of the outcome of the process followed in terms of the Section 78(1) and (2) study and subsequent Council resolution into the preferred service delivery mechanism for the various activities undertaken by the Solid Waste Management department thereby enabling Council to make an informed resolution and a Section 78(4) decision.
The report was finalised during 2019/20 financial year and will be reported to Council during 2020/21.
Social Engagement and environmental clean-ups
The Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) provided the municipality with a Youth Environmental Coordinator (YCOP) to assist with social engagement and awareness.
On the 10th of April 2019, Solid Waste Senior Manager, YCOP, Stellenbosch Water Institute Project Manager, Amanzi Yimpilo youth ambassadors and engineers, Environmental Management unit manager conducted site visit to all the polluted areas highlighted by the community, involved a walk- through ED and H sections of Enkanini, and an investigation of the three rivulets in Enkanini. The aim of the site visit was both to verify the community concerns and obtain a sense of the extent of the problems that the community had identified.
Involvement with professional and Educational Institutions:
During the financial year the department conducted environmental awareness with regards to recycling and illegal dumping. Environmental awareness was conducted by the YCOP at the following schools:
List of visited schools:
1. Groendal Primary School;
2. Dalubuhle Primary School;
3. Kayamandi Primary School;
4. Ikaya Primary School;
5. Ida’s Valley Primary School;
6. Webergedenk Primary School;
7. Kayamandi High School Pniel Primary School;
8. PC. Petersen Primary School;
9. Makupula High School;
10. Stellenzicht High School;
11. Luckhoff High School;
12. Laerskool Cloetesville;
13. A.F Louw;
14. ST. Vincent PC Primary;
15. Rhenish Primary;
16. Laerskool Eikestad; and 17. Devonvallei Primary School.
Involvement with professional and Educational Institutions Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA)
Photo: Cover of presentation at IWMSA Landfill 2019 conference.
Cover of February 2020 Resource and article on waste management in Stellenbosch.