WASTE MANAGEMENT PROBLEMATICS IN THE ALBERT LUTHULI MUNICIPALITY

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Waste minimization in the municipal areas

A study conducted by the district municipality revealed that a number of re-claimers frequently sort and collect waste materials at the Carolina landfill. During the interviews carried out by the district consultants, the re-claimers indicated that they had been working on the neglected site for about three weeks and were paid 30 cents per kilogram of reclaimed plastic and tins (GSDM, 2006). In addition, a team of other re-claimers, who collected metals, indicated that they sold it to the local scrap contractor in town. According to one of the local scrap yard contractor, ABCON Metals, the reclaimed goods bought from reclaimers are further sold at approximately 30 tons of steel to Highveld Steel in Middelburg at least once a month (GSDM, 2006). 22 However, the re-claimers were unable to provide the quantities of recycling material collected, as they did not keep records. Re-claimers also indicated that their recycling undertakings are limited as the landfill is at times set alight, thus placing them in a vulnerable position (GSDM, 2006). In the district study, it was reported that: “a municipal foreman has confirmed that there is always smoke coming from underneath the site, suggesting that the site was set alight or uncontrolled fires occur and that these developments are not supported by the municipality” (GSDM, 2006: 49). Furthermore, the re-claimers did not make use of any personal protection equipment when entering the landfill sites.

Municipal solid waste facilities in affected municipal areas

The majority of residential, commercial and industrial waste is collected and disposed of at the general landfill sites. The general condition of the landfills, as observed during the site visits by the district, is not satisfactory. None of the landfills in the Albert Luthuli Municipality are permitted and are not formally classified. This cannot be achieved as none of the landfill sites within the Albert Luthuli Municipality have any weighbridges. General waste disposal sites only receive general waste.

Waste minimization

Waste minimization simply means reduce, reuse and recycle. The primary goal of waste minimization is to reduce waste quantities that could otherwise be transported and disposed of in the landfill sites. Waste minimization is also called resource recovery or waste reclamation (DEAT, 2002a). Traditionally, the practice focused more on material reclamation from disposed waste in the landfill sites. This was uncontrolled, and informally done by reclaimers who were mainly from economically disadvantaged communities. There is an indication; however, that municipalities, private industries, and communities are starting to give support to initiatives of resource or material recovery. This involves amongst others, biodegradation, biostabilization, biodrying, composting and energy generation from landfill gas, as well as other advanced technologies (DEAT, 2002a). Recovery of waste at the source is strongly recommended, but it can also be done during transportation or at the disposal site.

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Waste treatment

Waste treatment is the third priority in the waste management hierarchy. It follows waste minimization and precedes waste disposal, the fourth and the last step in the waste management hierarchy. Different methods are used by countries for waste treatment ranging from chemical treatment, thermal treatment, sterilization and many more. Waste treatment is also used as waste disposal and hence the two waste management steps are dealt with concurrently in order to create good coherence. Although practices for solid waste treatment or disposal also vary from country to country, the most common method for waste disposal are landfill sites. Japan, China, Sweden, Denmark and some other countries use incineration as a preferred method for waste treatment and/or disposal.

ALBERT LUTHULI MUNICIPALITY

Albert Luthuli Municipality as part of the Gert Sibande district comprises of the towns of Carolina, Badplaas, Elukwatini, Ekulindeni and eMpuluzi (Figure 3.2). The main town in Albert Luthuli Municipality is Carolina, which hosts the municipal headquarters. The municipal area consists of the following: 42 settlements, which have been categorized into 22 wards. The area stretches from Diepdale and Ekulindeni along the Swaziland border. It also borders South Africa in the east towards Hendrina and to the west from Nooitgedatch and Vygeboom dams in the north to Warburton in the south.

TABLE OF CONTENTS :

CHAPTER 1: RESEARCH BACKGROUND
- 1.1 INTRODUCTION
- 1.2 RATIONALE AND MOTIVATION FOR THE STUDY
- 1.3 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
- 1.4 RESEARCH AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
- 1.5 SCOPE OF THE RESEARCH
- 1.6 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
- 1.6.1 Population and samples
- 1.6.2 Data collection
- 1.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
- 1.8 STRUCTURE AND PRESENTATION OF THE DISSERTATION
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
- 2.1 GENERAL TRENDS IN WASTE MANAGEMENT
- 2.2 WASTE MANAGEMENT TRENDS IN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
- 2.3 WASTE MANAGEMENT TRENDS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
- 2.4 WASTE MANAGEMENT TRENDS IN SOUTH AFRICA
- 2.5 WASTE MANAGEMENT PROBLEMATICS IN THE ALBERT LUTHULI MUNICIPALITY
  - 2.5.1 Waste minimisation in the municipal areas
  - 2.5.2 Waste treatment by the municipality
  - 2.5.3 Management of hazardous waste
  - 2.5.4 Municipal solid waste facilities in affected municipal areas
- 2.6 THE SOUTH AFRICAN REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
- 2.7 INTEGRATED WASTE MANAGEMENT
  - 2.7.1 Waste avoidance
  - 2.7.2 Waste minimisation
  - 2.7.3 Waste treatment
  - 2.7.4 Waste disposal
- 2.8 CONCLUSION
CHAPTER 3: DERMACATION OF THE STUDY AREA
- 3.1 MPUMALANGA PROVINCE
- 3.2 ALBERT LUTHULI MUNICIPALITY
  - 3.2.1 Demographic status
  - 3.2.2 Environmental features
  - 3.2.3 Water supply
  - 3.2.4 State of three landfill sites
- 3.4 CONCLUSION
CHAPTER 4: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
- 4.1 INTRODUCTION
  - 4.1.1 Research method for Objective
  - 4.1.2 Research method for Objective
  - 4.1.3 Research method for Objective
- 4.1.4 Research method for Objective
- 4.2 DATA COLLECTION
- 4.3 DATA ANALYSIS
- 4.4 RISK ASSESSMENT
  - 4.4.1 Toxicity assessment
  - 4.4.2 Exposure assessment
  - 4.4.3 Risk characterisation
- 4.5 CONCLUSION
CHAPTER 5: RESEARCH RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

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ENVIRONMENTAL RISK ASSESSMENT ASSOCIATED WITH UNREGULATED LANDFILLS IN THE ALBERT LUTHULI MUNICIPALITY, MPUMALANGA PROVINCE, RSA