Two years before Swakop landfill reaches capacity

The Swakopmund municipality has initiated an environmental assessment for a new engineered landfill to replace its current site, which reaches capacity in two years.

The municipality has started an environmental assessment for the proposed facility, with Geo Pollution Technologies appointed to conduct the process.

The assessment forms part of the requirements of the Environmental Management Act of 2007 and its regulations. Residents and other interested parties have been invited to submit comments and concerns on the proposed development.

Municipal spokesperson Linda Mupupa says technical assessments have confirmed that the existing landfill has an estimated remaining lifespan of two years.

She says Swakopmund’s population growth has increased waste generation and put greater pressure on existing waste management services.

“When the existing landfill site was established, it was located well outside the town. However, with the rapid expansion of Swakopmund’s urban boundaries, the landfill is now situated much closer to residential and future development areas than originally intended,” Mupupa says.

She says the municipality needs to relocate waste disposal operations to a more suitable location that can support the town’s long-term growth.

“The development of a new engineered landfill is, therefore, essential to ensure the uninterrupted provision of waste management services while accommodating future population growth and complying with modern environmental standards and regulatory requirements,” she says.

The proposed project will see the development of a more formalised landfill facility with supporting infrastructure. According to the public participation notice, the facility will continue to accommodate solid waste, but hazardous and toxic waste will not be accepted.

The municipality says the new facility will include a weighbridge to record incoming waste, administrative offices, ablution facilities, a material recovery facility for sorting and recycling, as well as a composting facility for organic waste.

Mupupa says the project cost has not yet been finalised, as the environmental impact assessment, detailed engineering designs and bill of quantities still need to be completed.

She says the project is expected to be funded by the Swakopmund Municipal Council, subject to available resources and approval through the council’s budgeting process.

Construction is expected to start within the next year, beginning with the first phase of development. The municipality wants the new facility completed before the existing landfill reaches the end of its operational lifespan.

To address environmental concerns, the municipality says the landfill will be developed as an engineered facility with an impermeable liner system and a leachate collection and management system to prevent contamination of soil and groundwater.

The municipality also plans to appoint a private contractor through a procurement process to operate the landfill.

Mupupa says the facility will include measures to control dust, odours and litter, while environmental monitoring will continue throughout its operation.

She says the recycling and composting facilities will help reduce the volume of waste sent to the landfill, encourage resource recovery and extend the lifespan of the site.

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