A dumping site is never a pleasant place to visit, but the dumping site of Overstrand in the Western Cape looks more like a holiday resort. In fact, it is not even called a dumping site, but a landfill.
Hidden deep in the mountains with a little pond and no detectable smell, you could very well mistake its administration house for a mountain cottage.
Until 18 months ago towns within Overstrand were disposing their waste at five different sites. But the new Karwyderskraal landfill has brought the municipality into the future of good waste management. The municipality is currently rehabilitating the old landfill sites.
“Our vision is to be the most desirable destination to visit, stay and do business,” says Thys Serfontein, of the health department of Overstrand municipality, which includes the towns of Hermanus, Gansbaai, Kleinmond and Betty’s Bay. “To achieve this we need to develop a world-class tourist industry supported by environmentally sensitive development.”
The landfill is only part of the waste management programme that won the Overstrand municipality the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism’s award for cleanest local council in South Africa last month.
Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Mohammed Valli Moosa initiated the annual contest for the cleanest town and city two years ago to encourage South Africans to take a keen interest in their environment and to play an active role safeguarding it.
“The government has set a target of reducing waste generation and disposal by 50% and 25% respectively by 2012 and has developed a plan for zero waste by 2022,” Moosa said when handing the R1-million cheque to Overstrand at Somerset West. “This target will only be met if the government works with all South Africans to mobilise against waste. It can be done. Today is proof.”
Knysna was the winner of the cleanest town last year, but Serfontein says any town that wants to take the prize from Overstrand next year will have to wake up earlier than his community.
He says the trick was to mobilise the local community to get involved in waste management and cleaning up the town. Even he was astounded by the enthusiasm with which the programme was met.
Community-based clean-up organisations such as CoastCare took to the streets to ensure that not a till slip remained wedged between the rocks. Another courageous project set up was the Recycle Swop shop, where children are encouraged to collect recyclable waste and trade it at the shop for useful items they may need.
“By doing this we are creating a culture of recycling while empowering the children at the same time,” says Marilyn van der Velde, project coordinator of the shop project.
“What makes this award so remarkable is that everyone has participated to make Overstrand a cleaner town,” says Serfontein.
“From the community leaders who started a community garden in the township to shop owners who realise that having a clean town will only lead to bigger things.”
The judges were impressed by the general cleanliness of Overstrand.
“The municipality has a number of initiatives running concurrently through the year, which has made a big difference to the area,” the report said. The municipality was also commended for its excellent awareness programmes.
Where street cleaners are scoffed at in other towns, they are regarded as heroes in the Overstrand municipality. Serfontein says the street cleaners feel a sense of purpose in the town.
The magnificent beaches are one of the biggest drawcards to the area. Grotto Beach in Overstrand is the only beach in the Western Cape, and one of only eight in the country, to be awarded Blue Flag status this year.
The exclusive international eco-label is awarded to almost 2 900 beaches and marinas in 24 countries across Europe and South Africa annually. It is a symbol of high environmental standards as well as good sanitary and safety facilities at the beach.
Mayor Willie Smuts says the R1-million the municipality won will be put to good use.
“Unfortunately unemployment is still rife in our community. We will use our prize money to create as many jobs as possible in Overstrand.”