Regional Waste Transfer Facility and associated infrastructure, eMbalenhle within the Govan Mbeki Local Municipality in Mpumalanga

The Govan Mbeki Local Municipality (GMLM) proposes to develop a regional waste transfer facility (WTF) at eMbalenhle, near Secunda in Mpumalanga.
WSP Group Africa (Pty) Ltd (WSP) has been appointed to conduct an environmental authorisation (EA) application process for the proposed waste transfer facility in terms of the National Environmental Management Act (Act 107 of 1998, NEMA) and the 2014 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations, as amended, as well as the National Environmental Management: Waste Management Act (Act 59 of 2008, NEM:WA).
Project Overview - Waste Handling Methodology and Operation of Waste Transfer Facility:
• An estimated 260 m3 of general / domestic, building (small quantities) and garden waste will be handled and stored at the proposed facility per day.
• The WTF will receive general waste from mainly eMbalenhle, Charl Cilliers, Evander, Kinross (includes Thistle Grove and Ext 25), Trichardt and Secunda.
• General / domestic waste will be transported from the scheduled residential collection areas with the current refuse compactor trucks to the WTF and emptied into a static compaction unit with a roll-on container, which will then be lifted by a roll-on truck and transported to the existing Leandra landfill site. The refuse compactor truck empties its contents into the static compaction unit where the waste is compacted before it is pushed into the truck that will transport it to the landfill site.
• It is estimated that a minimum of 4 to 6 trucks per day will be required to load and transport the containers with the compacted waste to the Leandra landfill site.
• The WTF will also consists of a drop off facility for garden and inert (building rubble) waste whereby the community can dispose the waste into a 10m3 skip. The facility will have ± 10 skips which will be transported to the Leandra landfill after its filled. Two to three skip loader trucks will be used daily.
• A third component will be an area to receive and handle recyclable waste.
• The site will not accept any hazardous waste.
Proposed Infrastructure:
1. Waste Transfer (Hopper) Area:
• The waste transfer area will have a static compactor area with an approximately 20m3 enclosed skip container that will receive the waste from the refuse compactor trucks. The truck empties its content via a hopper into the skip. The contents of the skip, once compacted, is transferred to a truck that will transport it to the Leandra landfill site.
• The area for the Waste Transfer Area is approximately 1 830m2 to accommodate the hopper. Provision will be made for the turning and reversing of refuse trucks (2 150m2).
• The municipal waste management fleet is usually parked off-site at the technical yard for safety reasons however, provision will be made for the parking of at least 6 trucks at the WTF within the above-mentioned truck turning area.
2. Public Drop-Off Facility Area:
• This area will have approximately ten 10m3 skips in the waste drop off facility for the public to dispose of general, garden and inert waste. Once full, the skips are removed to the Leandra landfill site and empty skips are place in the area. The area is approximately 3 550m2.
3. Waste Recycling Area:
• This area will receive recyclable waste from the public as well as waste from the residential areas that have been separated into the skips and will accommodate the receiving, sorting and storage of recyclables. The size of the area is estimated at 620m2. The area will be managed by the municipal employees with different recyclables stored in designated containers and recyclers will have the opportunity to collect recyclable waste. It will be required that the area must be well managed to encourage formal sorting and recycling of waste.
4. Skip Storage Area:
• Refuse bins or skip containers not in use or damaged bins/skips will be stored in this area. An area of approximately 500 m2 will be used. The area will be paved / concreted.
5. General Office Area:
The following infrastructure will be required in the general office area of approximately 220m2:
• A small site office (± 4m x 4m) with ablution / change room facilities.
• Maintenance office / store for minor maintenance and repairs.
• Staff and visitor parking area. Provision will be made for approximately 10 vehicles.
6. Utilities and Storm Water Management:
• Potable water needed for the WTF will be sourced from the existing potable water supply system in the immediate area.
• Sewage management system needed for the WTF will connect to the existing sewage management system in the immediate area.
• Electricity needed for the project site will be sourced from the existing electricity supply system in the immediate area.
• A storm water management plan will be developed for the site.
7. Access and internal roads:
• The preferred option for the access road for the WTF is a turn-off directly from Fomo Sibiya Drive into the site. The construction of an access road from this road will require approval from the Provincial Roads Department and the necessary traffic controls should be investigated (3-way stop / traffic light, etc.) to ensure safety of all road users. This option will also require a bridge / culvert / storm water management over existing stormwater trench / channel.
• The alternative option will be to use the existing roads into the residential area to the site.
• The access road(s) and internal roads will be paved. A dual lane road will be required to ensure smooth movement of traffic in and out of the facility and will be approximately 12 m wide and will require an area of approximately 2 450m2.
• A secure wired perimeter fence, 1.8 m high, will be erected around the site. Access to the site will be controlled via an access control gate with a guard house at entrance to the site. The facility will have security lighting at night.
Province(s): Mpumalanga