Health
Question by:
Hon Rachel Windvogel
Answered by:
Hon Nomafrench Mbombo
Question Number:
8
Question Body:
With regard to health hazards caused by fires at the waste-deposit facilities in Mossel Bay:
- Whether she will institute an investigation into claims that the waste-deposit facilities are health hazards for the community; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
- what is the number of patients treated for pneumonia and other illnesses associated with being exposed to the toxic fumes in the area?
Answer Body:
- There are no health hazard/risks at the Mossel Bay waste facilities. Household refuse are disposed of at the PetroSa landfill site which comply with the requirements as stipulated in the Waste Management Act,(59 of 2008)and is licensed by the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries. Access are restricted and no members of the public are allowed on the site.
Garden refuse are disposed of at the Garden refuse site in Mossel Bay where all garden refuse are chipped. No fires are allowed and the site is manned and well managed at all times. Building rubble are disposed of at the Great Brak River Building Rubble Site which is also manned at all times.
Ambient air quality are measured in the Mossel Bay Municipal area. There are no toxic fumes at unacceptable levels measured.
- The latest available data is available from 1 March 2019 until 29 February 2020. During this period, 770 children were treated for pneumonia.
Date:
Friday, February 28, 2020
