Since the beginning of the Recycling Week on 13 September, the City has been reflecting on its investment in drop-off facilities. Since 2017, the City’s Solid Waste Department has budgeted more than R218 million in upgrading drop-off facilities and building new facilities. This is to make waste minimisation more convenient for residents, reducing pressure on landfills and our environment. Alderman Xanthea Limberg, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Waste, visited the recently revamped Woodstock drop-off facility – currently the largest drop-off in Cape Town.
The City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Waste, Alderman Xanthea Limberg, visited the recently revamped Woodstock drop-off facility to see how the redesign of the facility is making life easier for users. This drop-off is unique in that there are three separate entrances, each for a different waste type. This has improved the traffic flows within the facility, and assists with safety and efficiencies on site.
The upgrade also included the construction of a general waste ramp, greens chippings shed, a builders rubble ramp, and a mini materials recovery facility. The site was closed for 18 months while construction was under way, with the project completed in November 2020.
In the previous financial year, 2020/21, 6 000 tonnes of recyclables have been diverted from landfills through the City’s drop-off sites, but this number could increase significantly if more residents start making use of the facility. Large amounts of recyclable material are still ending up at landfills.
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‘In light of Recycling Week, we want to encourage and remind the public to visit our facilities to drop off their recyclables, garden greens and builders rubble. Increasing the communities’ use and awareness of drop-offs, is key to addressing high levels of illegal dumping in the City. Much waste that is illegally dumped around, especially in vulnerable communities, could have been safely disposed of free-of-charge at these drop-offs. The dumping of rubble and general waste on public areas just attracts more dumping, and makes a place for pests to breed.
‘The City continues to invest in drop-offs to make them more convenient for users, while enhancing capacity for different waste types. We would like to remind residents that these facilities are available to all, and to spread awareness in their communities, particularly in the case of ‘fly-tippers’ dumping rubble from their vehicles,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Waste, Alderman Xanthea Limberg.
Upgrades totaling R93 million have already been completed at the following sites:
• Woodstock drop-off facility- R39,4 million upgrade
This revamp included the construction of a general waste ramp, greens chippings shed, a builders rubble ramp and a mini-material recovery facility. This drop-off facility is unique as it is not only the largest drop-off facility but it also has three entrances for specific waste types to improve the traffic flows within the facility. This assists with safety and efficiencies on site. The site was closed for 18 months and completed in November 2020.
• Hout Bay (R13,2 million upgrade) and Kommetije (R13,6 million upgrade)
These drop-off facilities are legally compliant to conduct chipping and green waste management operations within an enclosed facility and on an impermeable surface. The structure assists with the effective and efficient management and operations of waste on site. Ninety cube trucks at these facilities are used to transport the greens while heavy machinery/equipment is used to chip the garden waste.
At the Kommetjie drop-off facility, a loading ramp has been constructed to load the trucks with the chipped material.
• Retreat drop-off facility – R26,8 million
This facility has more than doubled in size, and vehicles entering the site are directed along a circular one-way route along an elevated platform, with waste-type specific containers alongside the route for easier access and flow. Once waste has been offloaded, vehicles can proceed toward the exit point and back onto the road. In addition to the improved layout, the recycling component at the facility has been enhanced. A large storage area for recyclable materials offers a dedicated, sheltered space in which these waste types can be sorted in a more organised and efficient system. Security facilities and offices have also been upgraded allowing for a safe and ease of mind experience for both employees and visitors at the facility.The City’s investments into drop-off facilities that are still under way include:
• Construction of the new Prince George Drive drop-off, R92,7 million
This is a new addition to the drop-off family and will comprise all the major waste management activities. This includes a chipping shed (chipping activities), a ramp for general waste and builders rubble as well as a mini-material recovery facility.
• Gordon’s Bay/ Helderberg drop-off facility- R16,7 million upgrade
This includes the construction of a chipping shed and the hard-surfacing of the chipping area. This project commenced in July 2020 and is on schedule to be commissioned during the coming months.
• Wynberg drop-off facility- R15,8 million upgrade
The Wynberg drop-off facility includes the construction of a chipping shed and the hard-surfacing of the chipping area, as well as a constructed loading ramp for the loader to load the chipped material into 90 cubic meter trucks. This project started in July 2020 and is on schedule to be commissioned during the coming months.
See the link below for a full list of City facilities and services that have been affected by lockdown. This contains a list of drop-off sites currently operating as well as details on what each one accepts. Please view this list to find your closest open drop-off.
