Gauteng’s landfill sites are under increasing pressure, with officials warning that limited remaining capacity is contributing to rising waste challenges across the province.
Speaking at the launch of a new private sector waste facility in Springs, provincial waste management officer Palesa Mathibeli said municipalities are struggling to keep up as landfill sites reach the end of their lifespan.
“We are quickly running out of landfill airspace because we are not diverting waste away from them,” Mathibeli said.
“So, it puts more pressure on facilities like this one. That is why we are very happy to see that our private partners are taking the initiative to support each other in addressing this crisis.”
Mathibeli said a number of landfill sites have already been closed due to non-compliance, which has contributed to illegal dumping in some areas.
The pressure on landfill space is being felt most sharply in communities where waste collection systems are already strained, and where informal waste pickers play a key role in recovering recyclable materials.
At the Springs site, waste is being sorted and separated before non-recyclable material is sent back to landfill. Some waste collection businesses are also bringing in baled recyclables directly for processing.
Tonkmeter CEO Leon Grobbelaar said the site processes large volumes of waste from the region.
“The landfill received roughly 5 000 tonnes of waste per month and that the aim was to extract at least 50 tonnes of that volume in combined recyclable packaging such as PET plastic, metals, and liquid board cartons,” Grobbelaar said.
He said the operation includes materials collected by waste pickers and formal waste businesses, with sorting taking place before disposal of residual waste.
Future plans include expanding participation of independent waste pickers working at nearby landfill sites.
“It’s a very satisfying industry, because of job creation in our KwaThema community and taking waste out of the environment,” Grobbelaar said.
Petco’s general manager for recycling and collections, Samu Mkhize, said the initiative integrates different waste streams into a single system.
“Tonkmeter is not just another recycling project. It is a practical example of on-the-ground integration. It connects landfill diversion with recovery infrastructure. It integrates industrial, commercial, and informal material streams into a single operating model.”
She said the project also includes a cashless payment system for waste pickers collecting specific recyclable materials.
MetPac-SA CEO Kishan Singh said the project supports broader recycling efforts linked to extended producer responsibility regulations.
“This now increases the circular economy and waste recovery in South Africa, aligning with EPR regulations. MetPac-SA will continue to support such initiatives in this country in the spirit of saving this planet,” Singh said.
While officials and industry stakeholders point to improved recovery systems, Gauteng residents continue to live with the realities of rising waste volumes, overflowing landfill pressure, and increasing reliance on informal waste recovery networks.
Saturday Star Reporter
iol.co.za
