Enviroserv fined R4m for stench at KZN dump
Waste management
company Enviroserv was fined a total of R4.4 million by the Durban
Regional Court on Monday after pleading guilty to the contravention of the
National Environmental Management Act.
The company owns a landfill site in Shongweni, west of Durban.
The KwaZulu-Natal company admitted to failing to prevent the emission of an offensive odour caused by activities on their premises between April 2016 and January 2017.
“This foul-smelling odour, likened to that of rotten eggs, emanated from the site, into the neighbouring communities” said spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority in KZN Natasha Kara.
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“EnviroServ was sentenced to a fine of R4 million, half suspended for a period of three years. They also have to pay R1.2 million to the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, and a further R 1.2 million to the Upper Highway community organisation.”
The company has had a few run-ins with locals who were fed up with the stench, threatening the company’s license.
