25 June 2007
In the interest of people's health and to protect the environment, including
ground water, the Green Scorpions have shut down a dangerous health waste
treatment facility in Ekurhuleni.
The closure of Aid Safe Waste, a medical waste incinerator in Benoni South,
Ekurhuleni, was preceded by a lengthy process aimed at resolving the
unacceptable operating conditions on site. The process included onsite
compliance inspection, official notice of intention to close the facility if
operating standards were not improved and direct interaction with officials in
charge of the facility.
Investigations by the Gauteng Green Scorpions also focused on establishing
links between Aid Safe Waste and illegal dumping of dangerous health waste.
The onsite inspection by the Gauteng Environmental Management Inspectors,
also known as the Green Scorpions, revealed unacceptable disregard for the
facility's permit conditions including improper storm water management that
resulted in blood-contaminated water leaking into the soil and potentially
polluting the groundwater.
The inspection also revealed poor storage practices that resulted in box
containers of medical waste disintegrating and thereby exposing the contents,
including human tissue. As the facility agreed to receive more waste than it
could handle, waste was stored for unacceptably long periods of time and the
facility's failure to comply with pre-determined feed rates of the incinerator
caused overloading and consequent emission of thick, black smoke.
Media coverage of this site also revealed that the local community is
exposed to an unacceptable risk of contracting diseases because of the improper
health waste management system of the site. Local children also faced high
infection risks from medical syringes, amongst other medical waste, that were
not properly disposed of.
The Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment have
vowed to keep this facility shut until all due processes have been complied
with. To ensure a legally fair and transparent process that will determine the
future of the site, the department has decided to take it upon itself to
conduct a public participation process. Invitations for comments by interested
and affected parties have already been sent out. The public is also encouraged
to submit their comments to the department.
Enquiries:
Livhu Siphuma
Tel: 011 355 1928
Sizwe Matshikiza
Tel: 011 355 1316
Cell: 082 778 9996
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment, Gauteng
Provincial Government
25 June 2007
