| Urban waste projects | <span>
<h2 class="sectHeading">Waste-to-energy projects </h2></span>
<h4>Landfill gas flaring</h4><p>Our Waste-to-energy project aims to reduce carbon emissions from City landfills in order to support climate change mitigation. This forms part of the City’s
<a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20strategies%2c%20plans%20and%20frameworks/Energy_Strategy.pdf" target="_blank">Energy Strategy</a>. </p><p>The project aims to produce electricity from the combustion of landfill gas. This gas, primarily made up of methane, is produced when organic matter such as food scraps break down in the oxygen-depleted environment of the landfill. </p><p> To convert this gas into electricity, perforated pipes or 'wells' have been dug into the landfill site to extract and channel it as fuel to produce electricity in specially-designed engines. </p><p>The landfill gas wellfield and flaring systems are currently operational at:</p><ul><li>Bellville Landfill </li><li>Coastal Park Landfill; and <br></li><li>Vissershok Landfill </li></ul><h4>How does it work?</h4><p>The landfill gas extraction system is comprised of a wellfield dug into the compacted landfill mass, which is made up of a combination of vertical and horizontal wells, wellheads, condensate traps, pipelines, gas blowers, and measuring instrumentation. Gas is channelled either to a flare or gas engine, where it is combusted and converted into carbon dioxide and water vapour. The heat from this process also enables the generation of electricity. </p><p>Extraction and destruction of landfill gas helps to: </p><ul><li>prevent uncontrolled gas migration, which could lead to fire, explosion or asphyxiation; and </li><li>reduce human health risks, environmental pollution, odour nuisances and greenhouse gas emission.</li></ul><p>The project enables the City to earn ‘carbon credits’ via the UN-approved Clean Development Mechanism and its replacement COP21Article 6.4 mechanism. </p><p>In Cape Town, the proceeds from
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Media-and-news/Cape%20Town%20nets%20R36m%20in%20Carbon%20Credit%20sales">the auction </a>of these carbon credits are ring-fenced to fund our Urban Waste Management Directorate’s projects that will reduce the health and pollution impacts of waste and generate additional co-benefit for communities.</p>
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<img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Inline%20Images/Waste-to-energy_1.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="display:none;width:949px;" />
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<p>Coastal Park Landfill.<br></p> </figcaption> </figure><figure class="itemSlide slide-left slide-2"><img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Inline%20Images/Waste-to-energy_2.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="display:none;width:949px;" /><figcaption class="image-slide-text" style="display:none;">
<p>The flaring and electricity generation system has been designed in such a way that destruction of the landfill gas can earn the City 'Carbon Credits'.<br></p> </figcaption> </figure><figure class="itemSlide slide-left slide-3"><img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Inline%20Images/Waste-to-energy_3.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="display:none;width:949px;" /><figcaption class="image-slide-text" style="display:none;">
<p>Perforated pipes or “wells” are dug into the landfill site to extract the gas. The wells are then connected to the flare compound where it is combusted or diverted to a gas engine to generate electricity. If gas is not used in the engine, it will be flared.</p></figcaption> </figure>
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<p>The infrastructure safely extracts and converts landfill gas to carbon dioxide before it enters the atmosphere, or burns the gas to create electricity.</p></figcaption> </figure></div><div class="image-gallery-control"><div class="image-gallery-caption"></div><div class="image-gallery-nav"><div class="nav-info">1 of 4</div><div class="slide-next">
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<h2 class="sectHeading">Langa Organic Waste Diversion and Composting Trial</h2></span>
<p>In response to provincial directives to divert organic waste from landfills, the City is exploring ways to achieve organic waste diversion in various contexts. One example is through the Langa Organic Waste Diversion and Composting trial.</p><h4>Phase 1</h4><p>The first phase of the project ran from October 2019 to March 2020 at a local primary school and informal fruit and vegetable trader. During this phase, 10,95 tons of organic waste were diverted from landfills. We provided waste containers and established a logistics network to process organic waste at the school’s food garden.<br></p><p>View the <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Graphics%20and%20educational%20material/SW_Leaflet_Organic%20waste_Schools.pdf" target="_blank">Organic Waste Diversion Project Pamphlet</a>.<br></p><h4>Phase 2<br></h4><p>We employed three local residents for phase two of the project through the City’s
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/work%20and%20business/jobs-and-skills-development/youth-careers/find-an-opportunity-with-epwp">Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP)</a>. The project ran for 18 months from November 2021 until May 2023. Partners from the Food Dialogues Network provided composting training at the Oranjezicht City Farm before work began at the project space in Moffat Street, Langa. </p><p>Local organic waste generators, including informal fruit and vegetable sellers/traders, old age homes, community feeding schemes and schools were recruited and provided with suitable containers for composting. Using a pedal-driven bicycle and trailer, workers collected the organic waste two or three times a week and composted it at Moffat Street. The generated compost was then distributed to local food gardens from the Food Dialogues Network.</p><h4>Project outcome:</h4><ul><li>56,5 tons of organic waste were diverted from landfills during the two phases </li><li>Since this project diverted the organic waste from landfill by aerobically composting it, the calculated greenhouse gas savings amount to the equivalent of approximately 58,5 tons of carbon dioxide.<br></li></ul>
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<p> EPWP workers use bicycle-drawn trailers to collect the organic waste from suppliers. </p></figcaption> </figure>
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<figcaption class="image-slide-text" style="display:none;"><p>During phase 1 of the project, we provided waste containers and established a logistics network to process organic waste at the school’s food garden. </p></figcaption> </figure>
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<p>The waste is transported to a composting facility, where it is beneficiated for use by local food gardens.</p> </figcaption> </figure> </div><div class="image-gallery-control"><div class="image-gallery-caption"></div><div class="image-gallery-nav"><div class="nav-info">1 of 3</div><div class="slide-next">
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