Waste facility sod-turning ceremony

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MOSSEL BAY NEWS - A sod-turning ceremony took place on Friday, 1 September, at the site of the new Garden Route Regional Waste Management facility off the N2, 15 kilometres from Mossel Bay in the direction of Cape Town.

The facility is on Farm 419, adjacent to PetroSA.

The development of the waste site is a collaborative endeavour of the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) and the local municipalities involved - Mossel Bay, George, Knysna and Bitou.

PHOTO GALLERY: The new Garden Route Regional Waste Management facility

Mossel Bay deputy mayor, Alderman Cliffie Bayman, gave the welcoming address at the event.

After Bayman spoke, representatives of the Garden Route District Municipality and the local municipalities spoke.

GRDM executive mayor, Alderman Memory Booysen, gave a keynote speech.

In his welcoming address, Alderman Bayman noted the facility was a significant step towards more sustainable waste management and environment-friendly practices in a world affected by climate change and an increase in communicable diseases.

Bayman said 1 September - the first day of spring - was a well-chosen date for the sod-turning ceremony. Spring was a season of new beginnings, when "our environment shows the fruits of the hard work put in during the winter months".

Alleviate waste impact, protect environment

Bayman said he was proud of the work Mossel Bay had done to alleviate the impact of waste and protect the environment.

"As the council of Mossel Bay Municipality, we take accountability in this journey, with the district municipality and yourselves, as fellow B-municipalities, to ensure the objective of the waste facility is reached," Bayman said.

"The journey to this milestone for all of us started a good while back and has seen many engagements, challenges, discussions, expert input and thorough participation from various stakeholders including ourselves as the Mossel Bay Municipality. The facility is on our doorstep.

"We are particularly glad the facility will include a domestic waste cell (Class B) and a separate hazardous waste cell (Class A) to accommodate low and medium hazard-rated waste as well as a project that includes a three-hectare portion that will be used for waste tyre recycling and other connecting components.

"Mossel Bay Municipality is eager to see the work opportunities and many other benefits that will derive from this facility," Bayman concluded.

GRDM municipal manager Monde Stratu explained: "Local municipalities have reached a point where their waste management sites have become exhausted, which is why this regional waste management facility is being constructed."

Municipality commended

Executive mayor of GRDM Memory Booysen commended Mossel Bay Municipality, especially municipal manager Collin Puren, for setting the tone on how local governments could work together and how intergovernmental relations should be executed.

An inaugural site meeting and commencement of works took place on 13 June, which saw the official handover of the site to the appointed contractor, Tefla Group.

Over the following weeks, the site was established, benchmarks were verified by a surveyor on 11 July, and the refurbishment of an existing farmhouse, set to become the site offices, is nearing completion.

Other infrastructure will include roads, stormwater pipelines, leachate storage dams, contaminated stormwater dams, offices, laboratories, weighbridges, workshops and security infrastructure.

The project also includes a three-hectare portion that will be used for a waste tyre recycling facility. Both the Domestic Waste Cell 1 and the Hazardous Waste Cell will have a lifespan of 20 to 25 years.