Decommissioning of the University of Pretoria’s Onderstepoort Incinerator

Decommissioning of the University of Pretoria’s Onderstepoort Incinerator: The project entails the decommissioning and demolishing of the University of Pretoria’s Onderstepoort Incinerator. The incinerator was constructed prior to 1989 (the exact date is unknown) and uses outdated technology. The outdated technology does not ensure compliance with the Maximum Emission Rates as stipulated in the incinerator’s Atmospheric Emission Licence (Licence Number: 9/16/1/2/38/R; issued on 12 August 2019). It is financially more feasible for the University of Pretoria to dispose of the infectious waste generated at Onderstepoort, when compared to the costs that would be involved in operating the incinerator in future. Operational costs would include, for example, air quality monitoring costs and costs to replace/upgrade abatement technology on the incinerator to enable compliance to the Maximum Emission Rates. The applicant therefore wishes to rather decommission and demolish its Onderstepoort incinerator. An underground diesel tank linked to the incinerator will also be removed. The diesel tank is owned and managed by TOTAL and has a capacity of 8m3. The removal will be managed by TOTAL and they will be responsible for any rehabilitation of contaminated soil in the vicinity of the tank.