Landfill pressures are spilling over into the property sector, leading to higher fees for waste collection, impacting property values, driving businesses out of the community, and adversely affecting the general quality of the surrounding environment.
South Africa’s landfills are rapidly reaching capacity, with many municipalities in the Western Cape having less than five years of airspace remaining.
Organic waste, comprising a significant portion of municipal solid waste, occupies valuable landfill space, thereby exacerbating this critical shortage and the need for costly new landfill sites, which can also take years to obtain a license.
Billions of kilograms of organic waste are dumped into landfills annually, exacerbating the problem of already overflowing sites, according to Brian Küsel, director of BiobiN South Africa.
“This isn’t just a missed opportunity; it’s a ticking environmental and social time bomb. By prioritising organic waste diversion, we address a multitude of interconnected problems that are crucial for South Africa’s waste sector.”
The waste management service told Independent Media Property that landfill pressures significantly depress property values for homeowners in surrounding areas, due to persistent odours, noise, increased traffic, and the environmental and health risks posed by landfill gas and leachate contamination.
It said this not only makes homes harder to sell but also impacts living standards. “For the broader property sector, these pressures lead to reduced investment and development, a lower municipal tax base, and the need for costly mitigation measures,” BiobiN South Africa said.
The primary reason properties fail to sell is typically an inflated price, said Riaan Pretorius, manager for Seeff Centurion.
The manager said that, unfortunately, owners often believed their properties were worth more. “The reality, however, is that if your property is priced above the market, buyers will simply look at other properties as buyers generally look for the best value they can find,” Pretorius said.
The real estate company said factors which influence the time it takes to sell a property include the location, condition of the property, overcapitalisation, the number of similar properties on the market, high levies, and the economic conditions which might be resulting in low demand, and properties staying on the market for longer.
BiobiN South Africa said that when organic waste breaks down, it produces methane, a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide in its short-term warming effect. It said the waste sector alone is responsible for 10-11% of city-wide greenhouse gas emissions in Cape Town, and diverting organics is an absolute priority for localised climate action.
Landfills are also said to generate leachate, a toxic liquid waste formed when water seeps through waste.
This leachate, said to be heavily contaminated by decaying organic matter, posed a severe threat to groundwater and surface water sources, impacting ecosystems and human health. Landfill liners have been known to fail, resulting in many instances of groundwater pollution, BiobiN South Africa said
The company said the decomposition of organic waste attracts pests and scavengers, often leading to disruptions in wildlife habitats and natural food chains. It said consuming contaminated materials can also harm animals, with toxins entering the broader ecosystem.
Küsel said the sheer volume of edible food being wasted in South Africa is a stark contrast to the country’s persistent hunger statistics. Of the 22.8 million tonnes of food produced or imported annually in South Africa, roughly 10.3 million tonnes is said to never be consumed.
This means 45% of the available food supply is lost or wasted, highlighting a systemic inefficiency that could otherwise alleviate some of South Africa’s food insecurity.
He said viewing organic waste as a valuable resource, rather than a discard, unlocks immense opportunities.
He added that if all urban-related organic waste in the Western Cape (estimated between 759 000 to 868 260 tonnes in 2020) were beneficiated, the value-add potential for the Cape Town economy alone could range from an estimated R16.7 million to R3.2 billion per year.
The company said the regulatory landscape in the country is increasingly tightening around organic waste disposal. The Western Cape’s Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP) has implemented an organic waste diversion plan targeting 100% diversion by 2027.
This impending landfill restriction was said to serve as a significant incentive for businesses to adopt waste beneficiation technologies. The national standards (GN561 of 2021), facilities composting over 10 tonnes of organic waste daily, no longer need a waste management license, simplifying the process for on-site composting.
BiobiN South Africa said solutions such as commercial in-vessel composting units are proving to be pivotal in managing organic waste directly at its source, transforming it into valuable compost.
It said this not only significantly reduces waste disposal costs but also contributes to soil health and local circular economies. BiobiN South Africa offers a versatile and scalable commercial in-vessel composting solution, enabling businesses to transform their organic waste into a valuable resource directly at the source.
“We urge consumers to actively support local businesses that have embraced composting and are actively championing a more sustainable approach to waste,” added Küsel.
“We also implore all businesses, from restaurants and hotels to food manufacturers and corporate campuses, to investigate and implement on-site composting operations. It’s a tangible step towards your corporate social responsibility (CSR) and a smart business decision for a circular economy.”
The company said that to mitigate the negative impact of landfills on properties, it encouraged localised circular economy solutions that divert organic waste from landfills, like large composting units, as well as businesses committing to better waste management practices.
Seeff advised property sellers to ensure the property is in a showhouse condition, cleaned thoroughly, and all maintenance is done so that potential buyers have no reason to walk away.
It should also be fully compliant and basically be move-in ready to avoid any doubt in the mind of the buyer, and aid the real estate company.
Independent Media Property
