Abstract
The West Rand District Municipality (WRDM) is currently experiencing major solid waste management and utilization challenges due to rapid population growth and increased waste generation in its four local municipalities, which are Mogale City Local Municipality (CLM), Westonaria Local Municipality (LM), Randfontein LM and Merafong CLM. Increased sustainable waste management and minimisation development have placed enormous pressure on the district. The study objectives were achieved by using a triangular method which included personal interviews, face-to-face questionnaires, site visits, landfill site operational reports, and document analyses.
This research focused on the identification of gaps in the current waste management practices in each LM so that waste management planning can focus on addressing the major shortfalls in current waste management practices. The increased waste management demands on the municipality include storage, collection, and transportation facilities. Insufficient provision of these facilities often leads to improper waste management in the municipality. This often results in illegal dumping of waste, and improper management of hazardous or medical waste which cause significant health and environmental impacts. This inadequate management is escalated by insufficient involvement of the municipality in strict enforcement of bylaws, education, awareness creation and about waste management and minimisation strategies.
Scavenging is the most important role in WRDM informal solid waste management in recycling, reduction, minimization and material recovery. There are poor waste minimisation programmes in place to encourage waste reduction, re-use and recycling initiatives for WRDM residents, townships and industries. Waste is not managed according to the waste hierarchy in WRDM and thus there is an increase of waste disposal to landfill sites. This has led to the rapid shrinking of landfill site airspace, soil pollution, scarce water resources and the release of landfill site gases or greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which contribute to climate change. The operation of landfill sites in the WRDM currently do not comply with the license conditions and requirements DWAF (Department of Water Affairs and Forestry), for example leachate management, monitoring, operation, and airspace...
M.Tech. (Chemical Engineering)