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Relocation of Ngozi Mine dumpsite too costly, health department demands urgent equipment upgrades

This
recommendation
is
contained
in
a
report
by
the
department,
seen
by
CITE,
which
highlights
critical
equipment
shortages
and
fire
hazards
at
the
landfill.

The
report
indicates
that
these
issues
have
led
to
a
sharp
increase
in
the
frequency
and
severity
of
landfill
fires,
with
109
incidents
recorded
between
2021
and
2024
alone.

The
fires
have
been
attributed
to
waste
salvagers
especially
those
dealing
in
metal
who
deliberately
set
the
landfill
on
fire
so
that
they
could
easily
collect
metal
recyclables.

Residents
of
Cowdray
Park
have
expressed
concerns
about
the
smoke
emanating
from
the
site,
claiming
it
poses
a
risk
to
their
health.
For
years,
they
have
lobbied
the
local
authority
for
permanent
solutions.

The
Richmond
Landfill,
commissioned
in
1994,
was
originally
designed
with
a
20-25
year
lifespan.
However,
it
continues
to
operate
due
to
economic
challenges
that
have
delayed
the
development
of
alternative
disposal
sites.

Although
the
landfill
is
estimated
to
have
another
10-15
years
of
use,
inadequate
maintenance
and
equipment
failures
have
hindered
proper
waste
management,
including
regular
compaction,
confinement,
and
covering
of
waste.

These
deficiencies
have
contributed
to
the
landfill
fires,
as
decomposing
organic
waste
produces
methane
gas,
which
can
spontaneously
combust,
particularly
in
high
temperatures.

In
recent
years,
machinery
breakdowns
have
reduced
maintenance
to
just
twice
a
week,
far
below
the
daily
standard
needed
for
safe
landfill
management.

The
Health
Services
Department’s
report
presents
two
options:
relocating
the
landfill
or
improving
its
operations
at
the
Richmond
site.

While
proponents
of
relocation
argue
that
moving
the
landfill
away
from
residential
areas
would
reduce
health
and
environmental
risks,
the
estimated
cost
of
over
$2.8
million
for
infrastructure
alone
makes
this
option
financially
unfeasible
within
the
current
budget.
Moreover,
developing
a
new
landfill
site
would
take
at
least
three
years,
with
operations
unlikely
to
commence
before
2029,
assuming
funding
is
secured
in
the
2026
budget.

“To
construct
a
new
landfill
site,
Council
requires
a
minimum
of
36
months.
This
timeline
allows
for
a
full
Environmental
Impact
Assessment
and
the
construction
of
necessary
infrastructure,
including
roads,
office
buildings,
water
supply,
and
sewer
reticulation.
Assuming
funds
are
readily
available,
a
new
landfill
could
realistically
be
commissioned
by
early
2028.
However,
given
that
no
budget
has
been
allocated
for
this
in
2025,
the
most
realistic
date
is
2029.
Until
then,
the
need
to
dispose
of
waste
will
persist.
Council
must
address
this
ongoing
challenge,”
said
Dr.
Edwin
Sibanda-Mzingwane,
Health
Services
Director.

The
alternative,
recommended
by
the
Health
Services
Department,
is
to
improve
operations
at
the
Richmond
Landfill
by
acquiring
essential
equipment
and
making
necessary
repairs.
This
would
include
purchasing
a
landfill
compactor,
bulldozer,
front-end
loader,
and
two
tipper
trucks.
These
upgrades,
along
with
the
development
of
new
landfill
cells
in
Phase
B
of
the
Richmond
site,
would
cost
an
estimated
$1.7
million—significantly
less
than
the
relocation
option.

“If
the
landfill
is
equipped
with
functioning
machinery,
fires
can
be
avoided.
Between
1994
and
2020,
when
the
landfill
had
adequate
machinery,
virtually
no
fires
occurred.
The
daily
processes
of
confinement,
compaction,
and
covering
effectively
prevented
fires.
Bulawayo’s
landfill
was
once
regarded
as
the
country’s
model
for
waste
disposal,
and
cities
and
academics
frequently
visited
to
learn
from
it,”
said
Dr.
Sibanda-Mzingwane.

The
department
also
explored
alternative
waste
management
strategies,
such
as
waste-to-energy
projects
that
convert
waste
into
renewable
energy.
Proposed
by
private
sector
partners,
these
projects
could
process
up
to
90%
of
the
landfill’s
solid
waste,
reducing
the
volume
of
waste
and
extending
the
operational
period
of
the
landfill
by
30
years
or
more.

The
department
has
urged
the
council
to
secure
funding
for
the
necessary
equipment
and
repairs
to
mitigate
environmental
hazards
and
improve
waste
management
practices
while
long-term
solutions
are
developed.