As part of efforts to reduce waste that is sent to landfills and facilitate a more circular, waste-wise economy, The City of Cape Town has commenced with the implementation of a new Integrated Waste Management Facility at the Coastal Park landfill.
The facility will include, among other things, a refuse transfer station (RTS) for compaction and transportation of waste, and a materials recovery facility (MRF) for the processing of recyclables. Organic waste diversion infrastructure is also being planned to remove organic matter from the waste stream before it ends up in the landfill where it can break down and produce landfill gas.
The transfer station project is currently entering the planning and design phase, with construction expected to begin in the 2025/26 financial year.
The Coastal Park Landfill currently receives an average of approximately 40,000 tons of general waste per month. Levels of waste that will be diverted away from landfills at the transfer station will still be confirmed when the design for the planned facility is finalised, but will be significant.
‘With the projects and commitments contained in the 2022 – 2027 Waste Sector Plan, the City is showing that we are serious about reducing what is sent to landfills. Plastic, tins and glass that still have value take up a lot of space in our limited landfills, and organic waste that is sent to landfills contributes to climate change by producing landfill gas during decomposition.
‘Part of the solution is upgrading facilities and processes the City’s Urban Waste Management facilities to filter out certain kinds of waste that could have value. For instance organic waste could be turned into compost or biofuel. This facility and others that are being planned as part of the current five-year sector plan will bring us closer to a circular economy that has successfully minimised waste,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Waste Management,’ said Alderman Grant Twigg.
The Urban Waste Management Directorate currently envisions that planned material recovery facilities and organic waste diversion facilities will work in conjunction with expanding separation at source programmes and the City’s expanding network of drop-offs to change our relationship with waste. The City calls on residents to please make changes in their own day-to-day lives that can further minimise waste and extend our available landfill airspace.
Tips for reducing waste
Use refillable cups at your local coffee shop, or reusable containers for takeaways where possible
Make use of the City’s ThinkTwice recycling collection service if you live in a participating area, or use the City’s Waste Recycler’s map to make contact with private recycling collectors until ThinkTwice is expanded to your neighbourhood. See here for more details
Avoid take away straws and cutlery where possible, rather bring a set with you
Buy in bulk and cut down on products with lots of packaging – refills and concentrates generally require less packaging
Take your own bags to grocery stores
Buy products that are made from recyclable or recycled materials
Choose durable products that won’t need to be replaced often
Avoid buying disposable products where possible
Composting food waste at home not only reduces the impact of organic waste, but also feeds your soil and results in a healthier, more productive garden. Residents with a garden/outdoor space for a composting container/heap can find information here: https://bit.ly/3vIMK7J
Residents should make use of the City’s network of drop-off sites for bulky items such as e-waste, garage waste and garden waste
Source: City Of Cape Town