“We remain on track to meet our 11-point action plan as agreed with the DEA,” Dean Thompson, EnviroServ’s CEO said, following reports of complaints by Shongweni residents living downwind of the landfill. He added that a review of all waste streams and air quality was being conducted to determine other contributors to the odours.

Once the review was completed, he said “operational changes” were made to handle specific waste types in order to reduce further contribution to the existing odour problem.

Thompson added that a scientific report revealed that EnviroServ was not the sole source of the odours as there were a number of other industries operating in the same area.

Challenges and solutions

The leachate storage tank at the Shongweni Landfill is said to be the cause of the allegedly decreasing air quality in the surrounding areas for the past several months. The Department of Environmental Affairs’ 11-point action plan for site improvement includes:

• Not accepting hazardous (Class A) waste material
• The suspension of tankering waste to the South Wastewater Treatment Works, after inconsistencies were found in the waste samples
• A permanent cover has been installed on one leachate tank, and two others have been emptied
• Stormwater dams will also be emptied and covered
• Air quality monitoring was implemented and will be upgraded to real-time air quality monitors

Stakeholder engagement

EnviroServ said it has begun engaging with the community leaders about the Stakeholder Engagement Plan that will be implemented. This process will ensure stakeholders are informed about the upcoming treatment and management processes of the landfill once a service provider has been selected.