Question 1
The challenges faced by both local government and households in South Africa with regards
to waste management, especially in rural and remote areas like the Hantam Municipality in
the Northern Cape, are multifaceted and complex. From the article, several key challenges
emerge:
Limited Municipal Resources: Municipalities in rural and remote areas face obstacles with
waste collection due to limited budgets, lack of proper equipment infrastructure, and
treatment centers (Viljoen et al., 2021). This leads to difficulties in accessing treatment
centers elsewhere and contributes to problems such as littering and illegal dumping (Viljoen
et al., 2021).
Question 3
Addressing the concerns raised by respondents in the study by Viljoen et al. (2021)
regarding dumping and landfill sites, it's critical to outline the general conditions required for
the safe disposal of waste on a landfill. These conditions are essential to mitigate
environmental and health impacts associated with landfills and to ensure their operation
within sustainable and safe parameters.
Proper Site Selection: The landfill should not be located near environmentally sensitive
areas, such as water bodies, wetlands, or areas of high conservation value, to prevent
potential contamination (University of South Africa, 2017). The site's geological and
hydrological conditions must be suitable to reduce the risk of leachate and landfill gas
affecting surrounding environments and communities.
List of References
Viljoen, J.M.M., Schenck, C.J., Volschenk, L., Blaauw, P.F., and Grobler, L., 2021.
Household Waste Management Practices and Challenges in a Rural Remote Town in
the Hantam Municipality in the Northern Cape South Africa. Sustainability, 13(11),
5903. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/su13115903 [Accessed 27 March 2024].