Case Studies

According to the Knowledge Product (KP) studies commissioned by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), a dirty material recycling facility (dMRF) involves segregating valuable materials from a mixed ‘dirty’ waste stream rather than separating the components of a segregated ‘clean’ waste stream. A dMRF may accept mixed solid waste, mixed commercial waste or construction and demolition waste. Target materials for a dMRF will usually include aluminium and steel, and may also include mixed plastics, mixed paper / card, wood, textiles and aggregate / glass. The remaining materials may be used to produce a refuse derived fuel (RDF) for energy recovery facilities. Use was made of the manual provided by GreenCape and approved by the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism, ‘Towards integrated municipal waste management: technical guide for technology identification and screening for integrated waste management planning’.

Configuration

Technology restrictions

• not suitable for hazardous materials
• will only recover a small amount from total waste stream

Main licence requirements for dMRF CLICK HERE [Insert link to legislation table] Advantages:

• Relatively simple technology and systems to extract recyclables from mixed waste.
• Possibly provide residual material for fuel production.
• Technology may be applied to a wide range of waste streams.
• Provide significant employment through hand sorting and operation of the plant.
• No greenhouse gases produced.

Disadvantages:

• Possible injury risk from handling material and machinery.
• Value of material is poor because of its contaminated state which occurs as soon as the waste is compacted in a collection vehicle.
• Quality of recycling is compromised as sorting needs to be done effectively and efficiently in dMRF facility.
• High use of water to wash plastic recovered from the MRF.

Case Study

Malmesbury and Vredenburg Dirty MRF, Western Cape

Read more (http://jpce.co.za/highlands-auditing/ http://www.swartland.org.za/media/docs/2014/Notices/Swartland-Baumgarten-Waste-Gro%20Novation%20Agreement%2016-01-2014.pdf) The Malmesbury’s Highlands landfill is partially privatised and has a recycling operation on site. This landfill is well managed and excellent provision is made for waste disposal over the medium term. A materials recovery facility (MRF) with a conveyor belt is used for sorting recoverable materials from the waste. This operation provides employment for about 15 people. Recyclables from the entire Swartland area are sorted through the highly-organised operation. The dMRF at Malmesbury, which has been in operation for 20 years and has been replicated at Vredenburg, diverts 14% by mass from landfill. The MRF also operates direct collections of paper from companies / legal firms etc. for processing. The Novation Agreement between the Swartland Municipality and Wastegro is cited above as an example of a contract that has been operating successfully as a PPP (Public-private Partnership). Saldanha Bay Municipality plans to roll out free weekly door-to-door recycling collections to residents in the municipal area. The first phase of the programme was launched in October 2016 in Langebaan (Wards 6 and 14). As further budget becomes available in 2017, Vredenburg, Paternoster, Jacobsbaai and Hopefield will come on stream, with Saldanha and St Helena Bay following the year after. Langebaan residents have been requesting a recycling collection service in their Integrated Development Plans (IDP) for a number of years. Ward Councillors and residents alike have long been keen to have the system introduced. The ‘WeCare - Recycle’ programme is part of the municipality’s commitment to improving services to ratepayers, creating employment for community members and helping keep the West Coast clean, an area whose natural beauty brings thousands of tourists and visitors annually. Residents will be given a starter pack with educational information about how to participate as well as free clear bags for the first week. There is no need to sort the different ‘dry’ items. The clear bag is for recyclable paper, plastics, glass, and tins altogether. Food scraps, wet and other waste go as usual into the green bin. On refuse removal day each week, residents place their clear bag with recyclables on the pavement next to or on top of the refuse bin. The municipality’s recycling contractor, Wastegro, will collect the bag of recyclables and a new clear bag will be left for the next week’s (household) recyclables. Bags are taken to the materials recycling facility at the Vredenburg landfill site. Here trained workers from the community sort the recyclables to be baled and transported to Cape Town for reprocessing into new products. Recycling ‘swop-shops’ are also planned to be rolled out in informal settlements. These will give the youth an opportunity to obtain school accessories, clothes and household items in exchange for the recyclable materials they collect. This will help to clean up street litter in these areas while giving the youth an early experience of entrepreneurship by creating ‘wealth out of waste’. Businesses and restaurants are not included in the free weekly domestic recycling collection system and must make their own recycling arrangements with contractors of their choice.

Malmesbury dMRF Double Conveyor sorting trash

Vredenburg dMRF Single Conveyor sorting clean paper