A <link _top>foundry in Roodepoort, west of Johannesburg, has been closed down because of its excessive <link _top>pollution, the environmental affairs department said on Thursday.
Independent <link _top>Foundries was shut down on Wednesday following attempts by the Green Scorpions (the Environmental Management Inspectorate) to ensure the <link _top>foundry adequately managed and controlled its emissions, spokesperson Mava Scott said in a statement.
"Operations will not resume until such time as measures are implemented to the satisfaction of the department which will eliminate excessive fugitive emissions from the site," Scott said.
The decision came after several inspections undertaken since April, during which the department found ineffective pollution-control equipment, resulting in the release of excessive emissions, clearly visible above the plant. The inspections also found very old and outdated <link _top>furnaces, "extremely poor" housekeeping and <link _top>ventilation, poor visibility within the <link _top>foundry and no proper <link _top>separation of <link _top>waste.
Based on the above findings, the serious potential harm resulting from the operations and an increase in complaints from Roodepoort West residents, a decision was taken to employ more stringent action.
