Executive Mayor Jeremy Fasser and members of his Mayoral Committee officially launched the new waste cell at the Stellenbosch Landfill Site on Tuesday, 4 February 2025.
The new cell is a critical investment in the municipality’s waste management infrastructure. This newly developed Cell 4 will serve the Stellenbosch community for the next two decades, providing 1.1 million cubic meters of air space for waste disposal. While the cell was under construction the Municipality incurred great cost to transport all waste to the Vissershok landfill site near Table View.
Stellenbosch’s landfill history dates back to the establishment of its first waste cell, Cell 1, which reached capacity around 1996. The need for additional waste management solutions led to the development of Cell 2, for which the Municipality received its first waste permit in 1999. By 2013, Cell 2 had reached full capacity, prompting the construction of Cell 3. When Cell 3 reached its limit in 2019, planning and development for Cell 4 immediately commenced.
A 2017 feasibility study indicated that unlocking additional landfill space within Stellenbosch would save the Municipality an estimated R1.5 billion in external disposal costs. The total investment in Cell 4’s infrastructure amounts to around R110 million. The project not only ensures sustainable waste disposal but also offers economic benefits by significantly reducing haulage and external disposal costs.
According to the Municipality, having a well-managed local disposal site presents additional advantages beyond cost savings. “One of the key benefits is the potential to curb illegal dumping. By making disposal more accessible and affordable for residents, waste can be properly managed, preventing pollution of rivers, parks and public spaces.”
The timeline for each landfill cell to reach capacity has been shortening over the years. If waste management practices do not evolve towards more sustainable solutions—including reducing, reusing, re-purposing and recycling—Cell 4 could also reach capacity sooner than expected.
Municipal Manager Geraldine Mettler said that no other municipal land is available to create another landfill site. “The Municipality urges all residents to take an active role in responsible waste management to extend the landfill’s lifespan and protect our environment for future generations.” The Council will now focus on extending the cell’s lifespan with at-source sorting and turning waste into a saleable commodity.
Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Stellenbosch Mun.
Caption: Municipal Manager Geraldine Mettler and Executive Mayor Jeremy Fasser at the opening of the new landfill cell.
