Tshwane metro is set to open new landfill sites to end dumping woes for its residents.

Spokesperson Lindela Mashigo told Record East that the metro has already identified sites and feasibility studies would soon commence, in order to determine their suitability as new dumpsites.

“The cost for developing a new regional landfill site will depend on the studies and the conditions for environmental authorisation,” he said.

Mashigo acknowledged that the shortage of legal dumping sites was a “challenge” in the metro.

“Municipalities are, however, expected to divert more waste from landfills and consider disposal as last option.”

The metro has, in the last three years, closed down the Derdepoort, Valhalla, Temba, Kwaggasrand, and Garstkloof dumping sites – resulting in a rise in illegal dumping.

Mashigo said the new landfill site could only become a reality once approved by the Gauteng department of agriculture and rural development following a successful full environmental impact assessment.

The city has five operational landfill sites, namely in Soshanguve, Ga-Rankuwa, Heatherley, Bronkhorstspruit and Onderstepoort.

These are used for green waste for rehabilitation purposes.

Mashigo said the metro has spent nearly R43-million removing illegally dumped waste in the previous financial year alone and extensive education and awareness drives are needed to educate communities about illegal dumping and littering.