Abstract
M.Sc.
The location of a solid waste landfill site is not only determined by the need of the local
population of an area but also by minimum requirements imposed by the Department of Water
Affairs and Forestry. These minimum requirements act as a method of environmental
protection against pollution caused by landfill sites.
The objective of this study is to explore the utilization of a geographical information system
as an aid in selecting the best possible location for a new solid waste dumping site. It is
possible to determine the most appropriate location for such a new waste dumping site by
using the minimum requirements set forward by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
as guidelines in the site selection process.
The minimum requirements can be used to eliminate all those places that do not meet the
necessary requirements. The remaining areas can all be considered as potential sites and must
be investigated personally by the people responsible, in the local government.
A need for a regional solid waste landfill site in the area of Howick, Hilton and Mpopomeni
in the KwaZulu/Natal Midlands was identified and used as the basis for this study.