The East London IDZ environment management
The East London IDZ has an environmental management framework which has been developed on a comprehensive foundation of environmental information as well as socio-economic priorities and constitutes a guiding framework within which development activities must take place.
The aim of the framework is to ensure that development within the IDZ takes place in an environmentally sustainable manner. Therefore it does not invite industries which are incompatible with the framework such as industries in certain chemicals, mining and metals, footwear, pulp and paper, timber, textile, automotive, agro-processing and general manufacturing streams.
The East London IDZ monitors noise, air and aquatic pollution. It is ISO140001 accredited and has implemented the necessary environment management and occupational, health and safety management systems. It is also compliant with global and South African legislative and regulatory frameworks.
The zone is located in an environmentally sensitive area, both in terms of flora and fauna.
In term of flora, it is home to important valley thicket, coastal grasslands, wetlands and dune thicket of which its wetlands are the most sensitive. Its valley and dune thicket are functioning corridors.
Three rivers – the Hickmans, Mvubukazi and Ngqenga Rivers – are found in the zone.
Over 2,000 species of flora can be found in the zone area, 10% of which are endemic.
The rare Marine Clawed Lobster can be found in the Hickmans River.
2006/2007 environmental milestones
In 2006/7 financial year, the East London IDZ listed the following achievements:
- The East London IDZ waste sorting station became operational.
- The integrated waste management strategy is underway and is expected to be implemented during 2007/8. This will compel the East London IDZ and its investors to report on their waste generation and management activities as required by current legislation and the much anticipated waste management legislation, currently being reviewed as a bill.
- This will be further enhanced by the East London IDZ’s cluster-driven approach, which provides opportunities for waste from one cluster to be used as an input for another. The strategy involves identifying possible inputs for industries that use certain waste products to manufacture goods, reducing costs for those who recycle.
- The East London IDZ has also started measuring effluent from the Automotive Supplier Park to pre-empt and manage any possible impacts.
- Regarding air quality monitoring at the zone, the zone intends to keep emission levels below 50% of legislated allowable emission limits. The East London IDZ has reached agreement with the Eurotype Test Centre, part of the SA Bureau of Standards, to jointly deal with issues of air quality monitoring on the West Bank.
