The first waste management site to be built under stringent new environmental guidelines has been opened in Vlakfontein, by Averda, a global waste management company, through its local subsidiary, Wasteman, in a significant R250-million investment into South Africa.

Wasteman is one of South Africa’s largest waste management firms specialising in the full chain of waste management services and was acquired by Averda last year.

Ideal location

Located in the Vaal Triangle, the new Vlakfontein site has been built in the petrochemical industrial heartland of South Africa with the latest international best practice in landfill engineering.

“This is a very exciting time for our company and we are pleased to bring the world’s best technology to bear at Vlakfontein. There has been a marked increase in the region’s industrial development and expansion emanating from the industrial and mining areas of the inland regions – and with that comes an increase in waste volumes,”

said Jan Labuschagne, Wasteman’s Managing Director.  “The Vlakfontein landfill site will alleviate the shortage of fully compliant disposal facilities for hazardous waste in South Africa.”

Specialist solution

Labuschagne says hazardous waste needs to be approached comprehensively. “Wasteman and Averda SA practice total waste management,” he says. “Waste streams that can be diverted from the landfill for recycling (or recovery) are subject to our strict processes; any non-recyclable or hazardous portions of these streams, following suitable screening, can be disposed of at the Vlakfontein site.

The company is in the process of implementing environmental programmes in the area, including the development of vegetation and introduction of wildlife – as well as investment into the local community through education and recycling programmes.