CESA Aon Award: 2014 Commendation – Project with value between R50 and R250 million
SAICE Award: 2013-2014 Environmental Engineering
SAICE Award: 2013-2014 Technical Excellence (Durban Branch)
Client: eThekwini Municipality: Durban Solid Waste
Project team: JG Afrika, Mech Eng Projects, GJA, ConsulTech
Contractor: Aveng Grinaker LTA
The Electron Road Integrated Waste Management Facility (WMF) in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, followed the same format as the successful Kraaifontein WMF in Cape Town, and JG Afrika once again in the role of lead consultant, undertook the project management, civil, structural, roads and transportation designs, plus the geotechnical engineering, environmental services (including “green engineering” and landscaping) and hydrogeological assessments, as well as site supervision and contract management duties.
Durban City had been disposing of waste at the Bisasar Road landfill site in Springfield Park but the site had reached full capacity and Electron Road WMF was designed to transfer 1,200 tons of solid waste each day. This equates to an entire football field covered 1 m deep in waste every day that needs to be handled, managed and transferred.
A key focus of the facility is to move waste management towards a more sustainable municipal service; one that meets new national waste regulatory requirements, reduces waste transportation costs, provides employment opportunities, allows waste to be effectively diverted from landfill and enhances the beneficial recycling of waste. The Electron Road WMF may not in itself entirely achieve all these objectives but it is hoped it will act as a catalyst to change the established approach to integrated solid waste management.