By Nangamso Mabindla
24 February 2006

THE newly opened R47-million regional waste disposal site in Berlin should play a large role in developing the economy of Buffalo City, Mayor Sindisile Maclean said at the launch of the site on Wednesday, 22 February.

Before Buffalo City had a waste disposal site, big industries in the city had to transport their waste more than 300 kilometres to use facilities in Port Elizabeth.

"This project is very important if we aim to achieve our goal of creating jobs for our people. The businesses in Buffalo City will now use this site for their waste disposal," Maclean said.

And, the site is easily accessible as it is close to the N2 to King William's Town and the railway line to East London.

With the anticipated growth of the Industrial Development Zone (IDZ), the city needed to have its own regional waste disposal site.

"When the IDZ grows it will be easier for the city to service some of the industries expected in our zone; they will not have to drive all the way to the Nelson Mandela Metro."

However, it was not only big industries that were going to benefit from the project; small recycling businesses would also be beneficiaries, with Maclean saying that "even the people who recycle plastic bottles should benefit from our site".

He also urged the city to involve the Nkqwonkqweni community when it needed people to clean the site. "This way we will be able to create jobs and contribute to the growth of this area."

The site already has one complete waste cell, with a second being constructed. Once complete the site will be able to accept between 200 000 and 500 000 tons of waste a year. Disposal charges will be determined by the mass of incoming waste, while public disposal is free for up to one ton of refuse.