The Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa will hand over the Hartswater solid waste disposal site to the Phokwane Municipality today.

The development of the Hartswater landfill site project was initiated through the Department of Environmental Affairs’ Working on Waste Programme on 1 March 2010. In line with the Green Economy approach, the project was implemented with the mandate to contribute towards poverty alleviation while encouraging beneficiaries to participate in the mainstream economy in ways that address the core objectives of the department.

288 people were employed during the construction phase of the project and all beneficiaries of the project received non-accredited training in the field of, amongst others project management, communication, road construction and occupational health and safety.

Minister Molewa will hand over the landfill site to the Phokwane Municipality whose responsibility it will be to maintain the operation of the landfill site. The landfill site has been designed to be operational for a period of 20 years or until it reaches its capacity.