DATE: 05 JUNE 2024
MEDIA STATEMENT: DEPT CONDENMS THE ILLEGAL DUMPING OF CREMATED HUMAN CORPSE BY THE UPINGTON CREMATORIUN.
The Northern Cape Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform condemns the illegal dumping of cremated human corpse at the De Duine landfill site in Upington – ZF Mgcawu District Municipality.
This after a local newspaper lodged a complained about the illegal dumping at the site. The Department’s Air Quality Management, Pollution and Waste Management Unit conducted inspections at the De duine landfill site and the following findings were observed,
- Coffin covers were observed.
- Burned ashes containing burned bones.
- The waste was put in black plastic bags
- Most of the black refuse bags were torn and was mixed with other waste.
The Department further engaged the Upington Crematorium owner and who acknowledged that the waste disposed on site was that waste from the crematorium. The owner (name known to the Department) however, could not specify whether the waste was a general or hazardous waste.
The Department further advised Upington Crematorium to assess their waste with a laboratory accredited by the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) in terms of the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, No 59 of 2008, Norms and Standards for the Assessment of Waste for Landfill Disposal 2013. They were further advised as an urgent matter to contact a hazardous medical waste transporter for the disposal of the waste at hazardous landfill site.
Therefore, the Department has recommended the following as remedial actions;
- The practice of transporting burned human remains to the De duine landfill site to stop immediately.
- A service provider be appointed to collect the waste and that waste be disposed at a hazardous landfill site.
- Records of the waste transported and final disposal certificates should be kept for future verifications.
- Waste can be analyzed in order to establish the hazardous rating.
- The facility owner was further advice to stop the practice since human ashes cannot be disposed at a general waste landfill site.
- The Upington Crematorium is in contravention of the National Environmental Management: Waste Act No 59 of 2008, Chapter 4, Section 16, General duty in respect of waste management.
Failure to adhere to this recommendation the Department will have to take legal actions against the Upington Crematorium.
END
Mr Bongani Silingile – Media Liaison Officer
Office of the MEC
Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs,
Rural Development and Land Reform
Cell: 082 675 1841
Email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://daerl.ncpg.gov.za/