by Anne Kruger, GST Correspondent
With the growing importance of environmental sustainability in mind, GST recently looked into the current status of the waste disposal process in the Drakenstein Municipality.
Despite the fact that Drakenstein Municipality has a successful recycling process for inorganic waste implemented throughout the municipal area, this is not considered enough to save the local waste disposal terrain from filling up to the brim. That is why a new waste bylaw to be promulgated this year, places severe restrictions on organic waste disposal.
The new bylaw is in line with national legislation, which promotes organic waste diversion. Apart from reducing the pressure on landfill sites, composting organic waste also reduces harmful methane emissions and offers a more sustainable way to recycle nutrients.
The Municipality has already successfully promoted separation at source of recyclables, which has led to a self-employment scheme for wastepreneurs (pickers) who work at a site next to the landfill terrain. Their gleanings are sold to local waste recycling companies.
The landfill is successfully managed by a private company, but could be full to the brim by 2030, according to the latest external audit.
According to the proposed waste bylaw for Drakenstein, each business and household producing organic waste could be required to compost it and dispose of the compost on site (e.g. in the homeowner’s garden) from 2027.
Subject to the availability of funding, an organic waste food SA2050 disposal machine will be installed at the waste transfer station in Distillery Street, Paarl. Those who prefer not to attempt the composting process at home can deliver waste food in a pouch to the transfer station or to the landfill.
“Organic waste” means any material that is biodegradable and comes from either a plant or an animal. This includes crop residue, horticultural and fruit waste, and animal waste.
Another aspect of the new by-law is that it will officially ban the use of all single use items like plastic straws and plastic bags thinner than 30 microns from 2027.
These items should be replaced by re-usable bio-degradable materials or disposed of in a bag of recycling.