Solid Waste Management Master Class- Learning Notes - MILE

A Visit to the Mariannhill LandfillConservancyOutcome:The purpose of visiting the Mariannhill Landfill Conservancywas to explore challenges and innovative responses to landfillmanagement; and to consider approaches and the extent towhich they can be applied to respective municipalities.Challenges:• Adjoining residents/communities complaining about odour,particularly in the rainy season. Odours – arguably the biggestcontributor of NIMBY, NIMEY, NIMTO and BANANASyndromes.• The management of scavengers is difficult due politicalinterference and lack of security.• Generally, landfill sites experience bad media publicity due tothe nature of activities occurring in the sites.Lessons Learned:• A landfill goes through a project life cycle – planning andpermitting; design; operation; closure and maintenance; andaftercare.• Landfill sites and operations need to be technically sound,aesthetically pleasing, have the ability to recover plants (i.e.indigenous species), control alien plants; ensure rehabilitationand progressive restoration, generate electricity throughmethane gases; treat leachate; do composting, recycle andcreate a conservancy.