The rehabilitation and landscaping of the slopes of the decommissioned Radnor Landfill is turning what was once an eyesore into a green habitat for local birds and wildlife in the Parow Industrial area.
The City of Cape Town is pleased to report that a R17,1 million project to rehabilitate and protect the environment in the vicinity of the decommissioned Radnor landfill is progressing well. The landfill has been successfully capped, and a variety of endemic/indigenous plants are currently taking root along the landfill slopes.
One of the major challenges to the rehabilitation of a barren area, especially in high wind zones such as in Cape Town, is the high levels of erosion that make it difficult for plants to establish themselves. With this in mind, hardy and fast-growing vegetation was planted as this can stabilise the soil, and allow for other plants to establish themselves later on.
Species such as Slangbos, Sour fig, Coast Wild Rosemary, Rose-scented Pelargonium, Beesvygie, Blombos and Pig’s ear all form part of the mix, among others.
This project was initiated after a Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) study between 2007 and 2009, which focussed on historic unlicensed landfill sites within South Africa that required formal decommissioning. The Radnor site operated between 1962 and 1982 and received mostly general (domestic) waste.
The formal decommissioning/construction commenced on 15 January 2021, and most of the work was completed by 3 September 2021. The site is currently being maintained and monitored for possible defects until 3 September 2022, after which the project will be certified as complete.
Unfortunately due to possible settling of the landfill mass, or risks of landfill gas leaks, it is not safe to allow the public on site. These potential risks will be monitored and duly corrected as part of licence conditions for the site where necessary.
‘In the past, very little thought was given to the potential environmental impact of landfills on human health and the wider environment. Today this has all changed, and much more consideration goes into ensuring landfills do not negatively impact the health of communities, even after they have been closed.
‘The City is happy to be able to retroactively address some health risks associated with this site, in such a way that beautifies the area for the benefit of surrounding communities of Belhar and Uitsig,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Waste Management, Alderman Grant Twigg.