The City of Cape Town’s Kraaifontein Waste Management Facility has received an award for being one of the most outstanding civil engineering achievements of 2011/12 at the recent South African Institution of Civil Engineering Awards.

The R230 million facility is the first large scale ‘greenfield’ refuse transfer station in South Africa that is integrated with a mechanised material recovery facility, receiving co-mingled recyclables, separated and collected at the source.

The key focus of the facility is to make waste management more sustainable by providing a service that meets the new National Waste Regulations, reduces waste transportation costs, provides meaningful employment opportunities, diverts waste from landfills and enhances the beneficiation of waste.

“The facility’s success is primarily due to the excellent teamwork and foresight of the city’s Solid Waste Management Department, and the high quality of civil engineering design and service provided by the contractors,” says Patricia de Lille, executive mayor for the City of Cape Town.

“It is important to recognise hard work, and show our appreciation for a team that has done its utmost to provide a service that is not only beneficial for all, but also showcases an attempt to mitigate the effects of waste on our environment. Congratulations to the team – they have made us all proud!”