Media Release: GRDM Waste Management Section Hosts Chemicals and Waste Management Training for Local Municipalities
10 December 2024
During the week of 2–6 December 2024, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Waste Management Section in collaboration with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) facilitated Chemicals and Waste Management training sessions for officials from local municipalities across the district.
The refresher training sessions, presented by DFFE, were extended to municipal officials across various roles. They focused on critical aspects such as legislation, policies, standards, regulations, and education & awareness in waste management. Participants included waste section officials, drivers, landfill operators, team leaders, LED officials, street sweepers, portfolio councillors, and recyclers within specific local municipalities.
“Waste management is a local government function, and it is crucial to refresh everyone’s knowledge on an ongoing basis of the best practices and trends.” The training aims to empower all stakeholders to improve waste management practices effectively in their communities, “ said GRDM Waste Management official Innocentia Sikweyiya.
While this week’s sessions focused on coastal municipalities, the inland local municipalities are scheduled to undergo similar training in 2025, ensuring that the entire district benefits from this comprehensive capacity-building initiative.
Media Release: Accurate Waste Data – The Key to Managing Our Region’s Waste Effectively
28 November 2024
The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) is committed to improving waste management in the region by constructing a Regional Waste Management Facility (RWMF). The facility will be operational by March 2025. This will, amongst others, ensure the accurate collection of data, better reporting practices, and infrastructure that supports sustainable waste practices.
Registered Waste Facilities in the Region
Currently, all waste disposal, recycling, and export facilities in the region are required to register with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment’s (DFFE) Waste Information System. Local municipalities submit monthly reports to the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP)’s Integrated Pollutant and Waste Information System, feeding into the national South African Waste Information System (SAWIS). From data collected over the past few years, it is clear that accurate and consistent reporting remains a challenge, particularly due to the lack of weighbridges in most municipalities (this is noted countrywide).
According to Johan Gie, the GRDM Manager: Waste Management: “The RWMF will have two weighbridges installed for the weighing of incoming and outgoing waste collection and transport vehicles”.
GRDM’s strategic planning is committed to the regionalisation of integrated waste management and minimisation services as advocated by the Western Cape Provincial Department of Environmental Affairs & Development Planning (DEA&DP) and the National Waste Management Strategy, 2020. The DEA&DP, who is the licensing authority for domestic waste facilities, is committed to only licensing regional landfill sites and will therefore not issue waste management licenses to individual local municipalities going forward. “This is largely due to the economies of scale which reduces the capital and operational costs and improved overall compliance,” says Gie.
A recent picture of domestic waste cells under construction at the GRDM RWMF.
Regionalisation of landfill sites reduce potential detrimental environmental impacts because they avoid the spread of sources of pollution and reduce the socio-economic risks associated with local municipal landfills. A regional site is required, also because there is an exponential influx of people to the Garden Route District and subsequently increases the demand for refuse disposal services. The RWMF will allow the participating municipalities to meet this increased demand associated with the envisaged population growth in a cost-effective manner.
Regional Waste Statistics
The GRDM has access to waste disposal data for each town in the region. This data is critical for understanding waste generation patterns and for publishing statistics that help inform future waste management strategies and future planning. Although the compilation of detailed data, including recycling rates by material type, is ongoing, the GRDM is committed to improving data accuracy and availability.
The information currently reported by municipalities is mainly an estimate due to a shortage of weighbridges. These estimates are calculated by tools developed by DEA&DP and private industry to determine waste tonnages based on the type of vehicle (load capacity); type of waste e.g. builders’ rubble, garden waste, mixed waste etc., which each have an average uncompacted weight per cubic metre, and the percentage of load capacity filled with waste, amongst other things.
The RWMF weighbridges will be calibrated, and accurate waste disposal data will be available for the municipalities utilising the regional site which will be reported on the required information systems accordingly.
In the past, the GRDM assisted the seven local municipalities in the district by facilitating waste characterisation studies. “The aim of the waste characterisation exercise was to address an information gap in terms of the composition of waste stream in the local municipalities,” said Gie.
The following were noted from the results of the waste characterisation exercises:
3% of the waste stream by mass is composed of mainstream recyclables (paper, plastic, cardboard, glass and metal)
6% of the waste stream by mass is organics, the majority of the organics (73.5%) is kitchen waste
Nappies composed 7.8% of the waste stream by mass.
The results of the waste characterisation exercise indicate that a reduction in domestic waste to landfill of 75.9% is achievable if all the recyclable material and organic waste were separated at source by households. In practice a 100% diversion rate is not possible as not all households will participate in a separation at the source. However, there still remains potential to significantly reduce domestic waste that goes landfill.
Recycling Figures and Future Reporting
GRDM is currently updating its data on the types and volumes of recycled materials, which will provide valuable insights into the region’s recycling efforts. These figures, once finalized, will help demonstrate the impact of recycling initiatives and identify areas for improvement.
The GRDM urges the public to make use of the at-source recycling programmes and facilities throughout the region. Households can further reduce their waste by composting organic wastes where possible. The following recycling facilities are registered with GRDM:
Baleng Redira Tyre Recyclers (District)
076 455 9544
Henque Waste (George)
082 552 5373
Henque Waste (Riversdale)
072 626 6249
Henque Waste (Mossel Bay)
067 406 2489
LG E-Waste (George)
061 434 5814
Maiqhame Trading (Plett)
083 650 5620
Retain Recycle Re-Use (Oudtshoorn)
044 279 2081
Southern Cape Waste & Recycling (Mossel Bay)
044 693 5005
DM Recycling Waste Management (Knysna)
072 281 7231
GRDM recognises that waste management is a collective responsibility and calls on businesses and residents to ensure a cleaner, healthier environment for the region.
For any inquiries relating to District Waste Management, please contact Johan Gie on 084 404 3515, or e-mail johang@gardenroute.gov.za
Feature image caption: Weigh bridges form part of the critical path of the RWMF and they are currently being installed.
Media Release: Mayors and Municipal Managers Visit Regional Waste Management Facility Site
20 November 2024
Earlier today, 20 November, Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Executive Mayor Andrew Stroebel led a delegation of Mayors and Municipal Managers from local municipalities on an oversight visit to the Regional Waste Management Facility (RWMF), located next to PetroSA in Mossel Bay.
“During my previous District Coordinating Forum I promised to arrange a site visit for Mayors and Municipal Managers to witness to progress of this collective mega-project,” said Mayor Stroebel.
During the visit, GRDM Waste Manager Johan Gie explained the minimum requirements for initiating waste disposal operations at the facility. These requirements include the completion of Cell 1A, the access road, weighbridge, leachate and contaminated water dams, drainage pipes, guardhouse, weighbridge buildings, and permanent fencing.
Installation of the weighbridge has commenced and will be operational by January 2025.
Gie previously at the DCF detailed some of the challenges faced with completing the project according to its planned schedule. The main issue has been been rain and wind damage, which caused delays in preparing the surface of Cell 1A. Cell 1A is part of the critical path of the project and needs to be completed for municipalities to start disposing waste. “In some cases, work had to be restarted multiple times due to the extent of the damage,” said Gie.
GRDM Municipal Manager Monde Stratu provided a brief background of the project and its timeline.
Hessequa Mayor, Grant Riddles also visited the RWMF. He is pictured with GRDM Executive Mayor, Andrew Stroebel.
On a positive note, PetroSA has agreed to a month-to-month extension for the disposal of waste at its site adjacent to the RWMF, provided it complies with the prescribed licence conditions. GRDM will also be responsible for operating the temporary site, while also supplying the required cover material.
Overall the stakeholders were impressed with the progress made to date.
In his closing remarks, Mayor Stroebel said: “I want to thank GRDM Community Services Head of Department, Nthabeleng Raisa-Mlandu, the Mayoral Committee Chairperson for Community Services Jobieth Hoogbaard, Johan Gie – our Waste Management Manager and other personnel for their collective efforts to getting this project to where it is today”.
Subcontractors placing and welding HDPE lining. Excavation of cell 1 B in the background.
Bobcat placing 300mm layer of drainage stone on top of the various lining
Media Release: Further Community Clean-Up Initiative in Concordia West
2 August 2024
The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Waste Management section again worked together with the Waste Management section of Knysna Municipality, Asivikelane, and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) to clean Concordia West Kop n Lop on Wednesday, 31 July 2024. This event followed an earlier clean-up on 18 July (Mandela Day) at the Concordia West wetland.
GRDM commended the participants for their dedication in trying to maintain clean environments and stressed the importance of continued education and awareness. During the clean-up, some community members were observed dumping waste even as others were cleaning. According to the GRDM District Waste Management Officer Innocentia Sikweyiya, “this truly highlighted the need for ongoing education about proper waste disposal in our communities”.
GRDM recognises the importance of joint clean-up efforts and stressed the need for stakeholders to revisit and revise their strategies. Integrating education, awareness, and recycling programs into their initiatives is seen as essential for long-term success.
Stakeholders and Contributions
Asivikelane: 37 participants
GRDM: Provided gloves, masks, and rakes
Polyco: Supplied plastic bags
Aquelle: Donated beverages
Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE): 30 participants
Community Members: 6 participants
Knysna Municipality: Provided a refuse truck
In total, 320 bags of waste were collected during the clean-up. “These two clean-ups clearly demonstrate the value of collaborative efforts in promoting a cleaner and healthier environment,” said Sikweyiya.
Moving Forward
GRDM encourages ongoing community participation in maintaining cleanliness and stresses the importance of incorporating educational programs to foster better waste management practices. By working together and staying committed to these initiatives, the community can ensure a sustainable, healtier and cleaner future for all.
On the featured image and on the other images, you can see all of the clean-up activities.
NOTICE IN TERMS OF SECTION 33 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT: MUNICIPAL FINANCE MANAGEMENT ACT, 2003 (ACT 56 OF 2003)
Noticeis hereby given in terms of Section 33 of the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003 (Act 56 of 2003) that Garden Route District Municipality intends entering into a long-term Service Level Agreement with the Service Provider, Khabokedi Waste Management (Pty) Ltd, for the operation and maintenance of the new Regional Waste Management Facility for the Garden Route District Municipality for a period of ten (10) years for Tender GRDM/19/23-24.
Notice is hereby further given in terms of Section 21 and 21A of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, 2000 (Act 32 no. 2000) that the local community and affected parties are invited to submit comments or representations on the draft Service Level Agreement. Any objections, comments or representations regarding the Municipality’s intention and agreement must be submitted in a sealed envelope clearly endorsed “SECTION 33 COMMENTS ON NOTICE OF LONG-TERM AGREEMENT” and be physically submitted at the Garden Route District Municipality Reception located at 54 York Street, George; or alternatively e-mailed to Johan Gie, on/or before 30 September 2024 at 12h00.
A copy of the draft agreement, together with an information statement summarising the Municipality’s obligations in terms of the proposed contract is available for inspection during office hours at Garden Route District Municipality’s head and satellite offices. The physical addresses of the various offices can be obtained from the following link on the Municipality’s website.
The Information Statement and draft Service Level Agreement are also be available on the Municipality’s website.
Persons who are physically disabled or unable to write but need to participate in the process may present themselves during office hours at the offices of the Municipality listed above where a staff member will assist them to transcribe the relevant comments or representations.
This notice in published in English and will be made available free of charge, in Afrikaans or Xhosa upon request.
Hierdie kennisgewing word gepubliseer in Engels en sal gratis op aanvraag beskikbaar gemaak word in Afrikaans en Xhosa.
Esi saziso sipapashwe ngesiNgesi kwaye sifumaneka ngesisa, ngolwimi Iwe-Afrikaans okanye isiXhosa xa kukho isicelo eso.
For any information about the above, please contact Johan Gievia e-mail or at telephone number 044 693 0006.
MG Stratu Municipal Manager Closing date: 30 September 2024 Notice number: 82/2024
Mandela Day 2024: GRDM and Knysna Municipality Clean-Up Campaign
23 July 2024
On Thursday, 18 July 2024, the Garden Route District Municipality’s (GRDM) Waste Management section joined hands with Knysna Municipality to celebrate Mandela Day with a clean-up campaign targeting illegal dumping in the Concordia West wetland. This initiative aimed to raise awareness about the importance of maintaining clean neighbourhoods and reducing waste.
During the campaign, GRDM District Waste Management Officer, Innocentia Sikweyiya, emphasised the importance of reducing waste by buying in bulk and reusing items instead of purchasing disposable plastic bags, favouring reusable shopper bags instead.
The GRDM Waste Management Section would like to thank Knysna Municipality for also referring to the importance of keeping communities clean. It is not just the responsibility of the Municipality to take care of the community; residents should also keep their communities clean. Knysna Municipality has assigned two participants to monitor the area, report any illegal dumping, and send information to law enforcement for investigation.
Stakeholders and Donations
Stakeholders and donations involved in the Mandela Day Clean-up Campaign include:
Asivikelane: Donated refreshments for participants.
GRDM: Donated plastic bags, gloves, masks, and rakes.
Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) Workers
Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE)
The campaign successfully collected 300 bags of waste, making a significant impact on the cleanliness of the Concordia West wetland.
Featured Image Caption: All the stakeholders involved in making the clean-up campaign a success.
By joining hands, GRDM Waste Management Section, Knysna Waste Management, and members of the Concordia West community successfully cleaned the area.
Media Release: Empowering Communities through Waste Management: A Celebration of Global Recycling Day
For Immediate Release
22 March 2024
In honour of Global Recycling Day, on Monday, 18 March 2024, the Waste Management Section of the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), in collaboration with Mossel Bay Municipality, arranged a Global Recycling Day: Handover Waste Characterisation event. This gathering not only celebrated the ethos of recycling but also recognised the diligent efforts of participants involved in the GRDM Waste Characterisation Project in Mossel Bay over the past months.
Nombuyiselo Majola, the representative of Mossel Bay Municipality, commended the participants for their commitment to the ‘War on Waste,’ acknowledging the challenges they faced in sorting through waste yet determined with unwavering dedication. “You took bags with waste, went through it; came across things that are smelly and not pleasant, but still you did not miss a day,” she said.
“Innocentia Sikweyiya, coordinator of the Waste Characterisation Project for GRDM also act as the Program Director for the event.
Nombuyiselo Majola, the representative of Mossel Bay Municipality.
Following Majola’s address, Johan Gie, the GRDM Waste Manager, echoed into the significance of the Waste Characterisation Project and the invaluable contributions of the participants. He highlighted the importance of understanding waste composition in effective waste management strategies, emphasising that “a person cannot manage something if there isn’t knowledge of what is being managed.” Gie expressed gratitude to the participants for their role in providing essential data for informed decision-making regarding waste management initiatives.
During his presentation, Gie showed interesting insights collected from the project, such as the difference in waste composition between different socio-economic areas. He explained how the data collected, influenced strategic planning, such as implementing composting and recycling initiatives based on waste patterns observed in the different neighbourhoods through the study. “Because of the similar studies, we found a lot of organic waste came out of the lower-income areas, explaining that people who earn less, peel their own potatoes and vegetables and in general end-up with a lot of peels and organic waste. In contrast, where people in high-income areas reside, we saw that they tend to buy packets that’s already peeled and cut, which results in a lot of packaging waste” said Gie.
Johan Gie, District Manager: Waste Management.
Charlotta Lamprecht, CEO of Henque Waste in Mossel Bay.
The event also featured a message of support from Charlotta Lamprecht, CEO of Henque Waste, situated in Mossel Bay. She shared the remarkable work her company does in recycling and waste management, inspiring the audience with tales of environmental ownership and community empowerment. “I always tell people, we are working with waste, but we are not waste. We are proud of what we are doing; we are not stealing and we are not begging; we are working hard. Even though it is sometimes smelly and not good,” she said. Her message was powerfully driven with – if you throw-away you trash, it does not disappear, but it is where people like them comes in.
Participants of the Waste Characterisation Project, like Chriswell Sandile Nongezana and Monwabisi Matthews Sigxavu, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to learn and contribute to waste management efforts. “With what we have learn here, we can now teach our children and families at home on how to separate waste and how to practise recycle,” Monwabisi Matthews Sigxavu said
As a token of appreciation, all participants received certificates recognising their invaluable contributions, symbolising their role as champions in the ongoing battle against waste.
The Global Recycling Day: Handover Waste Characterisation event served as a emotional reminder of the collective responsibility we bear towards safeguarding our environment. Through community engagement, education, and strategic initiatives, the Garden Route District Municipality and Mossel Bay Municipality are paving the way towards a cleaner, greener future for generations to come.
The Programme was directed by Innocentia Sikweyiya, GRDM District Waste Management Officer who also coordinated the project.
Featured image caption: Participants and stakeholders of the Mossel Bay Municipality Waste Characterisation Project.
Update 3 on the Construction of the GRDM Regional Waste Management Facility
14 February 2024
Bulk earthworks, including the final shaping of Cell 1A and excavation of the leachate and contaminated water dams, are in progress. The road box cut has been completed for the entire access road of 3.8km and the contractor has commenced with the road layer works.
The excavation of the subsoil drainage trenches in Cell 1A is in progress and all the required materials for the installation of the subsoil drainage is on site. The completion of the subsoil drainage will be followed by the installation of the various liners as legislatively required to prevent any underground water or environmental pollution. The clear & grub and removal of topsoil on Cell 1B (adjacent to Cell 1A) is also in progress.
There have been several delays in the construction process to date, however, all avenues to expedite the project is currently being pursued and a revised programme is to be submitted to Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) by 16 February 2024.
-END-
There are currently various activities taking place at the Regional Waste Management Facility in Mossel Bay.
Frequently Asked Questions: Questions and Answers about Waste Management at the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM)
Click on the questions below to view the answers to frequently asked questions.
1. Who collects waste from households?
Local or metropolitan municipalities collect waste generated by households. District Municipalities provide technical support to local municipalities and assist with regional planning and coordination.
2. Who is responsible for operating a regional solid waste disposal site?
According to Section 84 of the Municipal Structures Act, regional solid waste disposal sites is a function of the District Municipality, in so far it relates to the determination of a waste disposal strategy; the regulation of waste disposal; and the establishment, operation and control of waste disposal sites, bulk waste transfer facilities and waste disposal facilities for more than one local municipality in the district.
The GRDM Council resolved that a service provider will operate the site for a period of ten years.
3. Who is responsible for operating a local waste disposal site?
Local municipalities are responsible for managing their own local waste disposal sites like Grootkop Landfill site in Oudtshoorn Municipality and Steynskloof Landfill Site in Hessequa Municipality. Due to the technical nature of operating a landfill site in accordance with Waste Management Licence conditions, it is common practice that municipalities outsource the operations to external service providers.
4. When was an Environmental Impact Assessment concluded for the Regional Waste Management Facility?
It was completed in 2012.
GRDM received Environmental Authorisation & a Waste Management Licence was issued by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment in 2014.
5. Why is a regional waste management facility needed?
The reason is because Bitou, Knysna, George and Mossel Bay Municipalities do not have landfill sites available anymore, requiring the GRDM to establish a regional waste management facility. These municipalities currently make use of the PetroSA Landfill site in Mossel Bay, which is near its full capacity. It is also a better choice to have a regional waste management facility because of economies of scale. It offers a reduced capital and operational costs and improved overall compliance. Further, the National Waste Management Strategy (Department of Forestry, Fisheries & the Environment) and the Provincial Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DES&DP) advocates the regionalisation of waste management and disposal. DEA&DP is the licencing authority for general landfill sites and has indicated that they licences will only be issued for regional sites going forward.
6. What are more benefits of having a regional waste management facility?
Pooled funds ensure compliance to Waste Management Licence conditions, cost of compliance and rehabilitation is exorbitant.
Avoids detrimental environmental impacts – as opposed to a number of landfill sites spread across the district.
Reduces the utilisation of limited land for landfill sites.
Access control to the regional waste management facility will be limited – waste pickers and muggings will not happen at a regionally controlled site.
Waste will not be burned illegally.
Accurate reporting will be possible when it is controlled at a district-level because there will be weighbridges and sampling done.
7. Why has it taken so long for the Regional Waste Management Facility to get to this point?
The process already started in 2006 when municipalities agreed to pursue a regional waste management facility. The finalisation of all environmental processes and authorisations were concluded in 2014. The project first followed a Public Private Partnership approach, which includes substantial red tape and legislative processes, and unfortunately the appointed service provider withdrew from the PPP at the final stages of the process on 29 September 2020. The GRDM Council subsequently resolved to make use of a loan for funding the construction and to appoint a service provider to operate the facility on GRDM’s behalf.
8. Who designed the new site that is currently under construction?
Zutari (Pty) Ltd was appointed for the design, drafting of tender documentation & contract supervision for the Regional Waste Management Facility and associated infrastructure. A Service Level Agreement with Zutari was signed on 11 October 2021.
9. When was the loan tender process finalised?
The loan tender process was finalised and Standard Bank appointed. This required a Debt Agreement to be in place, which was signed on 03 July 2023.
10. Who is constructing the regional waste management facility?
Tefla Group was appointed as contractor to construct the Regional Waste Management Facility for R320 million.
11. What happens if waste is not stored, collected or disposed of properly – who intervenes?
GRDM’s Municipal Health Services monitors this in accordance with the provisions of the Health Act and reports on non-compliance to the local municipality or issue non-compliance notices to businesses in the private sector. The DEA&DP is the licencing authority and is responsible for the enforcement of waste management licences. The Environmental Management Inspectorate further enforces the National Environmental Management Act in terms of any environmental degradation emanating from non-compliance issues.
For Waste Management-related queries and assistance, contact Johan Gie (Mgr. District Waste Management), via e-mail: johang@gardenroute.gov.za
Media Release: Clean-up & Education and Awareness – a cleaner, greener future
For Immediate Release
20 October 2023
A National Marine Week celebration was held yesterday by the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Waste Management Section in partnership with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, Cape Nature, Mossel Bay Municipality, Compass Medical Waste, and TM Ndanda Primary School. The campaign was rolled out to raise awareness about the importance of marine environments and the need to protect them.
Pollution, especially plastic waste, is one of the most pressing issues facing our oceans. To prevent further damage to marine ecosystems, the campaign encourages students to take part in clean-up activities and reduce single-use plastic consumption.
During the day it was also stressed to the learners that they should keep their communities clean and recycle as much as possible. They were taught that every person can make a difference by picking up litter and getting into the habit of recycling every day. Small, consistent efforts make a huge difference if everyone makes them. Students learned about the different waste streams that can pollute our oceans, including medical waste and how it is handled.
The clean-up campaign was conducted following the formal educational and awareness session.
“A total of 56 bags of recyclables and 14 bags of mixed-general waste were collected. The number of volunteers, including learners and officials, was approximately 90,” said Innocentia Sikweyiya, GRDM Waste Management Officer.
The GRDM Waste Management Section expresses its heartfelt gratitude to its partners in success – Plastic SA, AQUELLE, and POLYCO, as well as all the dedicated volunteers and participants who contributed to and participated in the recent clean-up events.
“Your unwavering support and active involvement have been instrumental in ensuring the cleanliness of our environment. Together, we are making a significant impact on preserving and beautifying our surroundings, and your efforts was truly appreciated, “ said Sikweyiya.
Mossel Bay’s clean-up activities during National Marine Week included many interactive and informative sessions where learners learned about pollution and recycling.
Featured Image Caption: Stakeholders who participated in National Marine Week clean-up activities in Mossel Bay.
