Johannesburg: Less than one year of average capacity for its active landfills
The two municipal landfills in Johannesburg that are still fully operational for general waste are nearly saturated. A recent CSIR study estimates that less than one year of capacity remains, while over 2,000 illegal dumping sites have been identified in the metropolis.
Johannesburg has less than one year of average capacity remaining in its active landfills, according to a recent study by the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) cited on Friday, September 18, by the Associated Press. The largest city in South Africa is facing rapid saturation of its landfill sites and an increase in illegal dumping.
Only two of the four municipal landfills are still fully accepting general waste. Robinson Deep is 99% full, and Goudkoppies is at 96%, according to data from Pikitup analyzed in August by DataDesk. Marie Louise is already over capacity, and Ennerdale now only accepts rubble and soil.
The pressure is exacerbated by the volumes collected daily in a metropolis where Pikitup provides public waste management services. The municipal company reports handling approximately 1.4 million tons of household waste annually across Johannesburg.
To manage some of the waste volumes, the city is also utilizing private landfills located outside its boundaries. Between January and March 2026, these external sites processed 17% of the waste removed, a solution that Pikitup describes as more expensive and logistically and operationally complex.
The saturation of landfills is accompanied by a rise in illegal dumping. More than 2,000 illegal dumping sites have been identified in Johannesburg, while collection delays can leave waste in some neighborhoods for several weeks. Burned or abandoned waste exposes residents to risks of air, soil, and water pollution.
The municipality is attempting to bolster its resources. Pikitup received nine new 19-cubic-meter compactor trucks at the end of August, following the addition of six vehicles in 2023-2024 and twelve more in 2024-2025. The city is also continuing the modernization of the Linbro Park site, where the first phase of work was 78% complete in June, and the second phase was 52% complete.
The CSIR estimates that up to 80% of Johannesburg’s waste could be diverted from landfills through recycling and organic material processing if source separation were widely implemented. Pikitup is concurrently developing sorting facilities and waste separation programs to preserve the remaining space.
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