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A proposal to build a N$200-million landfill near the mining community of Arandis has drawn criticism from a lawyer acting on behalf of the town’s council, who cautions that it could lead to environmental damage, contamination of groundwater, and health risks.

A business named Namwaste (Pty) Ltd intends to construct a waste disposal facility in the Trekkopje community region, approximately 15 kilometers north-west of Arandis.

The Namwaste waste management site will span 177 hectares and is intended to handle a minimum of 60,000 tonnes of dangerous waste annually.

It will benefit the mining industry and other generators of dangerous waste across the country, including the new demands from the oil and gas sector.

The municipal council placed a notice seeking complaints in August.

Attorney Richard Metcalfe, who is acting on behalf of the town council, sent a letter dated November 20, expressing his opposition to the Namwaste initiative.

He states that it is advisable for the council to refuse approval of the hazardous waste site project because of its possible adverse effects on the municipality’s reputation, health, safety, and sustainability goals.

The Namwaste treatment plant is estimated to cost N$200 million.

This was verified by Hilka Hamukuaja, the representative of Rent-A-Drum, a company specializing in the handling and disposal of hazardous waste.

Namwaste is a branch of Rent-A-Drum that received an environmental clearance certificate (ECC) in March from the environmental commissioner within the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.

The managing director of Rent-A-Drum, Riaan Vermeulen, has supported the initiative.

“I am confused as to why this has turned into a concern for the Arandis Town Council. The Communal Land Board has already given approval for a location approximately 15km from the town,” states Vermeulen.

The certification allows for the establishment of a new general and dangerous waste treatment and elimination site.

THE NUMBERS

If Namwaste is contracted, Metcalfe states that it is expected to generate approximately 40 jobs.

He claims that focusing on initiatives that support sustainable development will enhance the town’s economic and social progress.

By rejecting this dangerous waste site, Metcalfe states, it avoids possible future responsibilities linked to environmental restoration and medical expenses for affected individuals.

In November of the previous year, Metcalfe mentioned that the council had refused to grant permission for Namwaste to focus on sustainability and investigate other locations for managing hazardous waste, keeping it away from ecologically vulnerable regions.

The decision, he stated, involved evaluating initiatives that match Arandis’ position as a pioneer in renewable energy and eco-friendly progress.

Of particular interest, Metcalfe mentioned, is the acquisition by Cleanergy Solutions Namibia (Pty) Ltd of 2,400 hectares from the local council for the development of a green hydrogen production plant in Arandis, at a cost exceeding N$155 million.

“The entire deposit for this project has been settled through a letter of credit covering the full purchase amount. Furthermore, the company plans to establish a N$50-billion facility over a ten-year period starting in 2026,” stated Metcalfe.

He mentioned that the waste disposal area presents a danger to Arandis’ planned renewable energy project and any roadway built across its land to reach the waste management site.

Metcalfe mentioned that additional risks he highlighted include: persistent pollution of soil and water sources; possible health problems resulting from dangerous waste; and harm to the town’s image.

He mentioned that Section 6 of the Local Authorities Act states that the management of a town is handled by a town council. He also noted that the officially elected members of these local authority councils are required to support and protect the Namibian Constitution and the nation’s laws.

Metcalfe mentioned that the town council’s decision informed Namwaste that the developer had obtained approval from the !Oe-#Gân Traditional Authority on 24 January. This approval was for the development of the Namwaste project on a 1,500-hectare area managed by the #Gaingu Conservancy over a 25-year period.

DEFENDERS

Environmental official Timoteus Mufeti was cited in the Namibian Sun recently, stating that the initiative will safeguard public health and the environment, noting that it represents a significant move for Namibia to align with international waste management standards.

In a statement made in September during a stakeholder meeting in Swakopmund, Vermeulen mentioned that due to the existing difficulties with hazardous waste management in Namibia, Rent-A-Drum has suggested a short-term waste storage option, which was approved by the environmental commissioner on 3 September.

“This short-term storage site is planned to be finished by the end of 2025 and will ensure smooth waste disposal once the disposal facility is built,” he mentioned, noting that it is expected to align with the implementation of the upcoming hazardous waste management rules.

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