Recent reports of smoke from the New England landfill site in Pietermaritzburg has prompted groundWork, a Southern African non-profit environmental organisation, to remind the public of the importance of recycling in reducing the frequency of these events.

Air pollution

Smoke released from landfills will often contain toxic chemicals, many of which are carcinogenic. Fumes from such fires are especially dangerous to those suffering from respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic bronchitis.

Musa Chamane, groundWork waste campaign manager has commented, “Dioxins and Furans known to cause cancer in humans, heavy metals such as nickel that causes chronic bronchitis, reduced lung function, and cancer of the lung and nasal sinus and styrene vapour from burning foam based products can damage the eyes and mucous membranes are just some of the gases that a fire at a landfill will produce.”

Asked how to prevent landfill fires, Chamane responded: “Fires should be managed through public and staff training. A landfill is like a gas station, smoking is not allowed due to various flammable gases that are present in these places.”

Recycling

While Chamane said that it is difficult to say what would have caused the fire at the landfill site, he was prepared to comment that poor practices generally lead to fires. “A lot of recyclable waste such as paper and plastic that should have been recycled, uncovered waste that should be landfilled at the end of each day, unlimited or unrestricted access by the public, uncontrolled salvaging of waste by waste pickers and public could have resulted in the fire.

He further added that recycling decreased the amount of waste buried at landfill sites, meaning that less flammable material would be available as fuel for these events.

Msunduzi response

Following the fire, Msunduzi Municipality spokesperson, Nqobile Madonda, said that the exact cause remains unknown but offered two possible reasons, “There was a neighbouring veld fire that may have resulted in airbourne flaming debris finding its way over the fire break or wastepickers may have left a fire unattended,” she said.

Madonda added that the site remained accessible for disposal and the affected area will be rehabilitated.

Source: Maritzburg Fever