Illegal dumping poses a formidable challenge for municipalities, with many struggling to keep track of and clean up the numerous unauthorised dumpsites. The lack of comprehensive research on the quantity and distribution of these dumpsites within urban areas exacerbates the issue.
We are therefore pleased to share a recent publication focussing on this hot topic, co-authored by Mr Sean Swanepoel and Dr Danica Marlin, and using data collected during SST’s ‘Zero Plastic to the Seas of Africa’ project.
The article, titled “Mapping Illegal Dumping in Nelson Mandela Bay Metro: A Study Using Image Interpretation,” has been published in the Journal: Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment. This study employs a manual image interpretation technique to quantify illegal dumpsites in Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, South Africa.
Using aerial imagery from 2015 and 2021, captured at 50 cm and 25 cm Ground Sample Distance respectively, the study meticulously marked all illegal dumpsites across a total surveyed land area of 1331 km², including an urban expanse of 308 km².
The findings reveal a staggering 57% increase in the number of illegal dumpsites, rising from 4 969 in 2015 to 7 800 in 2021. Not only did the number of dumpsites increase, but the quantity of waste within these dumps also saw a significant rise.
The spatial analysis highlighted that these dumpsites are predominantly clustered near urban areas and roads, which poses additional environmental and health risks to the local population. This clustering effect underscores the urgency for targeted intervention in specific high-risk zones.
One of the most promising aspects of this study is the replicability of the technique used. The manual image interpretation method demonstrated by Swanepoel and Marlin can be easily adapted by other cities, providing a valuable tool for tracking and monitoring illegal dumping on a broader scale.
The publication of this research demonstrates SST’s continued commitment to advancing the understanding of the scope and impact of illegal dumping, whilst offering practical solutions to help our stakeholders better manage and mitigate this ongoing problem.
