MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube on Greater Kokstad landfill site

The opening of a Greater Kokstad landfill site by EDTEA MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube presents a myriad of opportunities for the area

Green economy prospects took a great leap forward for the Greater Kokstad area following the official opening of a massive multi-million rand first-of-its-kind landfill site to control waste in the area on Saturday.

KZN Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube said the R25 million state-of the-art Greater Kokstad Landfill Site marks an important milestone in the Department quest to usher in a new era in the fight against Climate Change.

Dube-Ncube said a myriad of opportunity in recycling and energy generated from waste are now within reach for innovative business to embrace and harness.

“Waste is business, big business when done in a proper manner that ensures that nothing, literally, goes to waste. In Europe many landfill sites are a source of energy that powers an entire town and village,” she opined.

Addressing the municipality and government officials, Dube-Ncube said the world today demands that we become warriors and guardians against flagrant violation of our environment.

“It is always stated that the environment doesn't need us but that we need the environment. That is why it should always be in our best interest to take care of it,” she said.

The opening of the Greater Kokstad Landfill Site comes a few days after the World Environmental Day and the World Oceans Day which were commemorated on 5 June and 8 June respectively.

“Landfill site should not only be places of dump, but should be centres of green economic activities where a myriad of opportunities help alleviate poverty and help prop up awareness around our green spaces,” said Dube-Ncube who marked the opening of the site by planting trees as part of the greening of the facilities.

Dube-Ncube said EDTEA’s efforts were aimed at strengthening the department’s partnership with Waste Pickers Association, Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs and municipalities in the area of waste management.

“These efforts top the priorities of green strategies we have embarked on. We are singling out waste management because it has few types of impacts on climate change. And these are Landfill methane emissions; Reduction in industrial energy use; Emissions due to recycling and waste reduction and Energy recovery from waste,” she said.

Greater Kokstad Mayor Cllr Bheki Mtolo thanked the MEC for her efforts in the fight for environment.

“Your coming here MEC really bolsters our energies towards making this municipality a leader in green economy. We have an assortment of strategies that we are exploring in the environmental sector for we understand that local government is well-positioned in this space,” said Mtolo.

For enquiries contact:

Mr Ndabezinhle Sibiya
Cell: 082 375 4742 

Mr Nathi Olifant
Cell: 060 970 5113

Ms Thando Biyela
Cell: 066 489 7373

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