Introduction

Small towns all over South Africa struggle with managing their waste in an environmentally and socially friendly manner and the SW interior of KZN including the Pietermaritzburg and Midlands region is no exception. Many of the outlying towns have illegal dumping sites that are an eyesore and health hazard. Some have no waste management systems or plans. Millions of rands have been spent on setting up recycling projects all over the country with little success, this has made Government Departments and funders despondent and reluctant to fund related projects.

African Conservation Trust, with Solutions for Development, together with various other stakeholders in KZN, has committed itself to a project to establish an Integrated Recycling project for the whole of KZN SW interior and the Midlands which will include all towns in the region. With this approach and support from all parties this initiative can become a reality to make the Polokwane Declaration objectives a reality and will assist Departments to achieve their objectives of waste reduction. Landfill waste costs the taxpayer at least R75 per cubic metre. Any recycled material ultimately saves taxpayers and future generations, working towards a cleaner, safer environment.

Roleplayers

  • EKZN Wildlife - provision of recyclable waste from reserves
  • Solutions for Development jointly with the African Conservation Trust will be the implementing agent/service provider and will conduct all necessary training and mentoring.
  • Conservancies within district - will bring clean recycled waste to depot for baling and packaging
  • Local Municipality - will bring clean recyclable waste to depot from recycling depots in towns
  • Local community members, recyclers, and domestic waste service providers
  • Consol Glass, Hosaf Fibres, Petco, Mondi Recycling Other National and local recycling bodies

Project Goal

The establishment of a pilot integrated waste management recycling system at the EKZNW Midmar Sheds site, that benefits the local community and the environment through job creation and recycling, resulting in a cleaner and healthier environment.

Project Objectives

  • To address the national problem of irresponsible waste management;
  • To create a clean and healthy environment free of litter;
  • To build on existing initiatives of recycling at site
  • To create linkages with Conservancies in establishing a regional recycling initiative
  • To create a model recycling facility which could be used for educational initiatives.
  • To create jobs;
  • To minimise the quantity of waste that must be land-filled thus reducing costs.
  • To develop a model that can be rolled out to other recycling facilities within the EKZNW reserves

Project Location

The project will be conducted at the Sheds opposite the entrance to the Midmar Dam Reserve, which are outside of the actual reserve and not to be confused with the old station sheds complex within the Midmar Dam reserve.

Current Status Quo

The collection of waste from chalets, events and other facilities within the EKZNW reserves is currently being undertaken by EKZNW and consists of collection and costly transportation to the Howick Curry's Post landfill. Umngeni Municipality services the town of Howick and the Midlands Meander route, but collection methodologies encourage wholesale illegal disposal in many instances. A recycling facility does exist at Howick and is being used, but effectiveness could be maximized if a dedicated entity drives additional collection for the surrounding areas. Additional waste removal contractors (Commercial Supplementation Agents, CMA's) , for instance, operate in the town of Howick and Pietermaritzburg, supplementing the waste services of the Municipality, bringing waste through from hotels, restaurants and other catering facilities on an ongoing basis, and synergies are being explored as part of the initiative by SFD. Informal recyclers take waste to recyclers (predominantly cardboard, paper and metals) but are being encouraged to collect other types of waste as well.

Duration of Project

The SFD/ACT team is operating a pilot to enable the team to establish seasonal recycling volumes and develop systems for recycling within the locational context, whereafter an evaluation will occur to refine and restructure if necessary and to further enhance employment or recycling possibilities

Modus Operandi

EKZNW Midmar Shed site Observation of recyclable waste systems currently in operation. Conduct time and motion study Maximise existing systems at EKZNW Midmar Waste from town, etc will be collected by the existing waste system and delivered to the recycling centre at the town. SFD has approached town to remove clean recyclable waste for processing to national recyclers at the Midmar depot Clean separated waste from CMA's and Conservancies will be brought through to Midmar depot. Clean waste from Midlands Meander members is being delivered to the site daily. Recyclable materials will be collected from key towns and Tourism operations within the district, via a green bag system, with the Municipal trucks collecting value waste on a particular day. Here the waste will be separated into green waste (organic) and solid waste. All the green waste to be allocated to a small composting facility and all the solid waste will be placed on the side of the transfer area. The solid waste will be separated into cardboard, paper, glass, plastic, tin and other materials. All recyclable waste will put into dedicated bins and bags. All recyclable waste will be sold to local recyclers in Pietermaritzburg or national markets at a pre- determined price. Selected waste can be used for crafts or utilized in an adjacent vegetable garden as planting containers, compost, fly traps or planters. The remaining waste will be deposited into appropriate skips for transfer to the landfill site or into smaller skips from the smaller commercial waste collectors, who will then remove these to the landfill area. Anticipated recycling reduction will commence at 30%, and will be closely monitored. Monthly reports will be provided to the relevant authorities to indicate landfill reduction, and therefore savings to EKZNW.

Training

All staff will undergo intensive training in the skills and systems they will be responsible for: Integrated Waste Management; Crafts from waste; Alternatives Uses For Waste; Generating Income From Waste; Basic Business Skills. All courses will be adapted to suit the context of the learners, coupled with on site mentorship.

Budget

There are already in place a variety of sheds and other structures at the site which can easily be converted to recycling depot. It is anticipated that the basic structures will be refurbished, the extent of which will be determined once the pilot project has been accepted in principle. The Implementing agents will be providing key equipment for the processing of waste, in order to facilitate the implementation of the pilot project. This aspect can be determined in due course, once permission to undertake the Pilot has been established. Existing facilities will be taken into account and consideration of volumes of recyclable waste will guide investment by implementers and recycling operators, as well as EKZNW. SFD will source relevant recycling equipment and operational requirements. EKZNW to transport waste to site for recycling.

Infrastructure and Equipment Requirements

  • Level site 200 X 200 m, fenced with 1.8 m weldmesh with double gate (Got)
  • Under cover separation areas, various with concrete floors. (Got)
  • Storage containers x 200 (1 ton bags) (Got)
  • Tools, balers, scales (Got)
  • Protective clothing for 6 members (Got)
  • 8 hand drawn trailers or tractor drawn collection trailer (Got)
  • Small storage shed for tools, implements (Got)
  • Signage will be erected Alterations and refurbishments in an amount of R64,000 are anticipated to be undertaken in the next few months and all donations will be gratefully accepted. Sponsors and partners are all being recognized on signage and through this website as well.

Opportunities to be created

The Integrated waste management centre will create opportunities for up to 7 people, including a supervisor, all of whom will be paid on a performance basis. Additional satellite opportunities are already being created, at for instance Mooi River, some 4 to 7 collectors are in place.

Risk Management Strategy

At least one member of the self employed team will be fully trained in First Aid, and an equipped First Aid pack will be available at all times. All self employed persons recycling on site will have signed an indemnity form, indemnifying EKZNW for all and any injuries caused by whatever causes. All recyclers will be required to wear safety equipment at all times, and will have gone through the relevant training, either on site or at a dedicated facility. All recyclers will undergo a refresher course at least quarterly in Basic First Aid. ACT and SFD will also ensure that EKZNW is indemnified for all incidents, excluding acts of idiocy by members of the public. All efforts will be taken to ensure the safety of persons visiting the site at all times.

Benefits to Partners and EKZNW

The benefits to partners and EKZNW will be as follows:- " Reduced transportation costs to landfill " Outsourced waste system to integrated programme, reduces costs of processing " Linkages with Conservancies and Tourism entities in Midlands Meander " Job creation for 7 local community members " An environmentally friendly waste management system, suitable for educational tours. " Exposure to general public via signage. " Integration of a system that works into the CSI and environmental programmes of corporate sponsors. " Increased collection of recycables from formerly ignored areas and regions.

Targets for Recycling

  • Targets are per month by April 2007
  • Glass 30 tons
  • PET Plastic 15 tons
  • Other Plastic 10 tons
  • Cardboard 10 tons
  • Tins 10 tons
  • Paper and other 10 tons

Implementation Partners

Solutions for Development:

Francois du Toit, as managing member, is the lead partner in the project and will co-odinate all aspects of training, recycling, and operations. SFD has over 10 years experience in community projects, and has successfully implemented projects with a value of over R15 million throughout KZN and South Africa. He is currently operating and launching recycling initiatives throughout KZN

African Conservation Trust:

ACT has focused on sustainable development throughout Southern Africa and is increasingly involved in environmental conservation, which is a core focus. ACT brings a wealth of international and local expertise and a variety of project intervention experience to the team. They will attempt to leverage funding where applicable, generating additional projects for job creation and environmental preservation. ACT is already providing basic equipment as well as a 1.3 ton bakkie and trailer for collection at depots in the region.

Monitoring & Evaluation

All stakeholders will be constantly updated and the monthly reporting format will ensure that the project is closely monitored. Appropriate measures will be taken by the Project Managers for the achievement of milestones and other deliverables. The evaluation processes that will be followed are: Close day to day management of the project and clear, attainable milestones; Monthly reports to all stakeholders; Income and expenditure of the recycling team Volume reduction and recycling reports monthly

Conclusion

With waste becoming a serious problem in both rural and urban areas we need to consider innovative ways of finding solutions to waste management. This can only be done by keeping waste in small quantities which can be managed productively to reduce as much waste as possible and to limit the amount of waste which is land filled. Ideally to be separated at source, one often finds that the general public is either lazy or disinterested in recycling. Creating a depot to which clean separated waste can be brought will go a long way to resolving these problems. This initiative aims to assist EKZNW and other tourism partners in the region, epecially the Midlands Meander members, in contributing to a cleaner society, to reduce waste to landfill by providing a vehicle to maximize source recycling, and to create a model recycling depot for potential duplication.