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A Last week we spoke about the important role of dumpsites in an integrated waste management system.  We noted that in Swaziland, and throughout 75% of the world, open dumping is the most common form of waste disposal, despite the environmental and safety hazards associated with this practice.  We also described how, with little extra financial input, the practice of open dumping can be transformed into a safer, more environmentally sound process.

Dumpsite Problems in Swaziland
The Swaziland National Solid Waste Management Strategy recognises the following problems with our dumpsites:
· Poor operational standards;
· Excessive leachate from dumpsites (a toxic liquid pollutant which is produced when waste degrades);
· Lack of knowledge of existing sites particularly the proliferation of small uncontrolled disposal sites and informal / illegal sites;
· Unregulated scavenging on dumpsites this puts some of the most vulnerable people in our society at risk of serious injury and contracting disease;
· Lack of a specific safe landfill site for hazardous waste;
· Lack of dumpsite for healthcare waste;
· Lack of collection and disposal system for rural homesteads.

It should be noted that whilst some of these problems are long-term concerns that will require significant funding for them to be addressed, others could be tackled immediately.  After rehabilitation, an open dumpsite becomes a controlled dump. The main features of a controlled dumpsite include only having waste dumped in certain designated areas of a manageable size; the prevention of fires being started; covering dumped waste with soil or other material to deter vermin; the construction of simple measures to intercept surface water; and the establishment of rules of on-site work with site workers, drivers and scavengers.

The purpose and advantages of these operational improvements is that they can be introduced quickly, need little or no additional investment, and introduce the concept of ‘control’ into the waste disposal operation.  This stage of landfill development could easily be achieved at the open dumpsites which exist in Swaziland, and such a development would greatly improve local environmental quality, and the quality of lives of those who live near the dumpsite.

Solutions at Mbabane Landfill Site
At the Mbabane Landfill Site at Mpolonjeni there has been considerable investment to ensure more controlled dumping procedures are followed.  Whilst elements of this improvement have required external funding such as the lining of the site to mitigated against leachate formation, other improvements have been low-cost and common sense.  For example, the City Council is promoting higher levels of recycling within Mbabane, to reduce the quantities of useful material which is sent to the site.  The benefits of this approach are numerous.  If it is removed from the waste stream at the household level (i.e. before it goes in the waste lorry), recycled material is less contaminated and of a higher quality.  This increases the value of the material, and the revenue that can be obtained.  The City Council is also promoting the development of new small-scale recycling enterprises, for example in the Msunduza community, who can capitalise on this opportunity.  Increasing recycling also has benefits for the dumpsite operation as wastes such as plastics that do not degrade over time and take up valuable space at the site are removed by the recyclers.

In summary, it should be emphasised that there are a number of simple operational improvements which can be taken by City and Town Councils, and Town Boards across Swaziland which will make real impacts at our dumpsites.  Lessons from the operation of the Mbabane City Council site should also be learnt, and this good practice should be adopted by other authorities in the country.

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