The proposed new waste facility on the outskirts of Atlantis, has been sparking major concern for years. Wesco Waste Management is proposing to construct and operate a new integrated waste management facility between the R27 and R304, approximately 5 km south of Atlantis Industrial and 2 km north-east of Duynefontein.
According to the appointed environmental consultants, SLR Consulting, the planned facility would play an important regional role by handling recycling, waste recovery, waste treatment, and the safe disposal of both general and hazardous materials over the next 30 years, potentially saving ratepayers money in the long run. An SLR report suggests that “no major or unacceptable environmental harm is expected if the facility is operated correctly.”
However, many affected residents are far from convinced. People living on surrounding smallholdings, along with the Melkbosstrand Anti-Wesco Task Group, have raised objections about whether this is the right place for such a facility. Their concerns range from environmental risks to visual impact and how the site might change the character of the area. In Atlantis, Hillary Swarts, a businesswoman representing business and faith-based organisations, said Atlantis residents are starting to realise the potential negative impact of this facility.
Swarts has called on residents of Atlantis, Mamre, Pella and Witsand to attend a crucial public meeting, scheduled for Monday, 1 December 2025 at 18h00, at the Saxonsea Civic Hall. “I urge everyone to attend this meeting. Please remember that we are fighting this as a community, based on a range of concerns that could affect our health, safety and long-term development.” The Melkbosstrand task-group will share updates on their activities to date. While their insights will be useful, she stressed that Atlantis and the surrounding settlements must stand independently because the town and its informal areas face unique challenges.
Some of the biggest concerns relate to what happens once the facility is up and running. “Without proper controls, the risks to groundwater, surface water and local ecosystems could be significant. Air quality, noise, visual impact and property values could also be affected at a local level.” But according to a report on SLR’s website, with strict mitigation measures, most of these impacts can be reduced to low or very low significance, arguing that its long-term regional benefits outweigh the localised impacts identified during assessment. During operation, unmitigated risks to water resources, aquatic biodiversity and property values were initially rated as potentially high. But SLR claims these risks, along with medium-level impacts to air quality, noise, visual character and community health, can largely be reduced to low or very low significance through mitigation. Another report estimates that between 50 direct and 100 indirect job opportunities will be created. Swarts warned that the proposed facility could lead to a substantial increase in traffic, claiming that between 300 and 500 additional waste trucks may move through the area daily. She highlighted fears of increased lung diseases, asthma and cancers as a result of long-term exposure to waste-related emissions. She also believes the facility will discourage much-needed economic investments into Atlantis.
