South African surface mines should “take the lead” and help find solutions to a mounting crisis of building rubble that threatens to overwhelm municipalities, suggests environmental consultant and Aggregate and Sand Producers Association of South Africa (Aspasa) lead environmental auditor Anthony Bowen.

He says Aspasa member mines and quarries are well versed in environmental matters and can lend expertise to managing waste in their respective areas.

Although smaller-scale mines and quarries are generally not significant polluters, they do generate some waste that is harmful to the environment, including lubricants and fuels for equipment, as well as general industrial and domestic types off waste.

Legislation requires these pollutants be appropriately handled and sent to waste disposal or recycling plants.

However, what happens after the disposal of such waste is of most concern to Aspasa, as it says many of the municipal and other disposal sites used are inappropriate, full or poorly managed.

In some areas, waste disposal infrastructure is “almost non-existent and poses a conundrum” for those who are environmentally conscious, says Aspasa.

“Whether it is plastic bags strewn from the disposal site by the wind, or unsealed hazardous waste landfill sites that contaminate groundwater, the combined effect is a catastrophe waiting to happen, unless we act now,” Bowen says.

He adds that Aspasa member mines can offer a number of solutions in terms of expertise, organisational abilities, loanable equipment and may even have suitable facilities to recycle building rubble.

“In rare instances, quarries’ rehabilitation plans may even be designed to [be] used as landfill sites after mining activities have been completed.

“These are just some examples that indicate a number of ways that our surface mining industry can help to clean up our towns, cities and environments,” he says.

However, Bowen says that, perhaps the most important role Aspasa member mines can play is to rally business and the community to hold municipalities accountable, and to work with authorities to find solutions to waste.

Aspasa members in each district of South Africa are faced with different challenges and should investigate where their waste ends up after it has been collected or disposed of. Any breaches of waste handling or disposal legislation should be held to the appropriate authorities’ account, he concludes.