Appeals against hazardous waste site

Two objections as elephant park and environmentalists raise concerns over landfill near Addo

TWO appeals have been lodged against the decision to grant the Coega Development Corporation (CDC) a licence for a highly hazardous landfill site on the Addo road. The site is in the Grassridge area next to a wind farm on the road between Motherwell and Addo.

CDC spokesman Simlindele Manqina said they had received two objections, but did not name those who had appealed.

However, Addo Elephant National Park spokeswoman Fayroush Ludick had said previously that they would lodge an objection as they believed the site was too close to the park.

Environmentalists had also objected as the landfill site will be in the natural habitat of the Albany adder, one of the most endangered species of snake in the world.

‘ The department . . . will have to weigh the merits of objections

And earlier this week, Grant Smith from the Endangered Wildlife Trust indicated that they were also considering an appeal against the location of the new landfill.

Meanwhile, mayoral spokesman Sibongile Dimbaza said they were aware of the licence application.

“The licensing authority for landfill sites is the Department of Environmental Affairs.

“They do not require the blessing from the municipality,” he said.

During the 15-year process that preceded the approval of the site, the municipality objected to the landfill on the grounds that it would significantly increase heavy traffic on the Addo road through Motherwell. According to the licence conditions, it will take 100 years to rehabilitate the property where the landfill is now situated.

“Management of objections to the proposed landfill site is not the responsibility of the municipality,” Dimbaza said.

“The national Department of Environmental Affairs will have to weigh the merits of objections and inputs before making the final decision.”

The plan is for the new waste site to eventually take over from the highly hazardous Aloes waste site – which is operated by Enviroserv – once that facility runs out of space, and will take five years to set up.

The total expected volume of hazardous and industrial waste that would be handled by the new landfill is 74 400 tons.

This includes chemical waste, heavy metals, mercury, paint, solvents, batteries and heavy-industry waste products.

The landfill is expected to be 180 000 m² in size and can be built up to 25 metres in height.