The Buffelsdraai Landfill Site was relaunched on Thursday, after extensive rehabilitation and safety improvement after closure in July 2023.
The landfill site will be reopened in two phases, at the start of April 2025.
The first phase is for the disposal of garden refuse, builders’ rubble, and sand cover material.
The second phase is for general waste, including domestic waste.
Addressing concerns about the safety of reclaimer on the site, since 1 was found dead and others injured prior to closure, Cyril Xaba, the Mayor of eThekwini, said they will be allocated a separate sorting facility.
He said the facility, already 98% complete, has undergone all the necessary statutory compliance and will be managed by an independent operator.
He also said a facilitation team was commissioned to guide the re-claimers through a business planning process.
“It is our hope that the model that has been developed for this area can be emulated and used in other communities to empower people living close to landfill sites,” said Xaba.
He said that developing recycling programmes not only keeps the environment clean but also opens avenues for generating an income for households.
Picture: eThekwini Municipality