Department outlines way forward to solve Upper Highway malodour

The department hosted a media engagement session in Central Durban yesterday to give an update on efforts to reduce the chemical malodour plaguing the area.  

The department's Mark Gordon says they've established that the cause of the odour is EnviroServ's landfill site. 

Communities surrounding the landfill - including Hillcrest, Shongweni, Kloof, Plantations and KwaNdengezi, among others - have complained for months that the stench is posing a health risk to them and their families. 

Gordon says they'll make a decision regarding the landfill site in the coming days.  

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He says action has already been taken against the company and more is likely to follow. 

"We will be suspending a lot of operations dealing with the disposal of waste on site. In terms of solving the problem, we have to deal surgically with the source of the problem. This means intrusive interventions have to be made into the waste fill," he said.    

Meanwhile, the National Prosecuting Authority in KZN has decided to prosecute the waste disposal giant with the matter expected to head to court next month. 

EnviroServ says it has already spent over R15-million on remedial action - saying it's committed to resolving the problem.  

Management believes the site will reach acceptable emission levels within the next six months. 

EnviroServ maintains it complies with relevant laws and standards when it comes to waste disposal.