EnviroServ has reduced landfill leachate production by 37% and contaminated stormwater runoff by 32% at Holfontein through its climate adaptation and water protection programme.
The environmental services company, part of SUEZ, received the 2026 Responsible Care CAIA Water Award from the Chemical and Allied Industries Association (CAIA) on 11 November, recognising its efforts to reduce the environmental impact of landfill operations.
The award acknowledges EnviroServ’s Climate Adaptation for Landfills programme, which focuses on managing rainfall, reducing pollution risks and improving the resilience of waste management infrastructure during extreme weather conditions.
At the company’s Holfontein landfill, more than 10.3 hectares have undergone climate adaptation measures designed to prevent rainwater from entering waste deposits and generating contaminated liquid known as leachate.
The interventions have delivered measurable environmental improvements, including a 37% reduction in leachate production, a 32% reduction in contaminated stormwater runoff and a 60% reduction in dust from exposed landfill areas.
These reductions are significant because landfill operations can create environmental risks when rainwater passes through waste material, potentially carrying contaminants that require treatment and careful management.
Reducing the amount of water entering landfill waste bodies can lower the volume of contaminated liquid requiring treatment while helping protect surrounding water resources.
EnviroServ Group Technical Director Esme Gombault said the programme demonstrates how waste management infrastructure can be adapted to respond to changing climate conditions.
“Climate change is a real business challenge that requires industries to be accountable for the impact infrastructure has on the environment,” Gombault said.
“The results achieved through our landfill climate adaptation programme have significantly reduced the amount of rainwater entering landfill waste bodies, thereby decreasing leachate generation, reducing contaminated stormwater runoff and improving overall environmental performance.”
The programme extends beyond Holfontein to EnviroServ’s operations at Shongweni and Vissershok.
Across these sites, more than 20 hectares of landfill areas have been temporarily capped as part of the company’s broader climate adaptation strategy.
Temporary capping involves covering exposed landfill areas to limit rainfall infiltration, reduce the movement of contaminated water and improve environmental control.
The approach also supports dust reduction and more effective landfill gas management.
According to EnviroServ, the interventions have improved water management across its operations, preserved treatment capacity during severe weather events and reduced pollution risks.
The programme illustrates how changes to existing industrial infrastructure can contribute to environmental protection without requiring entirely new waste management facilities.
For communities living near landfill operations, effective management of contaminated water, dust and emissions is an important part of reducing potential environmental exposure.
The initiative also highlights the relationship between climate adaptation and corporate environmental responsibility.
As rainfall patterns become less predictable and severe weather events place additional pressure on infrastructure, landfill operators must manage the risks associated with flooding, water contamination and waste containment.
By reducing rainfall infiltration and improving stormwater management, EnviroServ is taking practical steps to strengthen the resilience of its facilities.
The company’s approach aligns with the Responsible Care programme’s management principles covering pollution prevention, resource efficiency and environmental accountability.
It also supports broader sustainability objectives relating to clean water, responsible consumption, sustainable communities and climate action.
Beyond its environmental programme, EnviroServ was recognised for its Dress a Learner initiative, which has provided clothing to more than 3,000 learners since its launch in 2013.
The programme forms part of the company’s community development activities and reflects an additional dimension of its corporate social responsibility work.
“Our commitment to responsible care extends beyond the environment to the communities around our operations,” Gombault said.
The recognition of both initiatives demonstrates how environmental management and community investment can form part of a company’s broader approach to responsible business.
For the waste management industry, EnviroServ’s results provide a practical example of how climate adaptation measures can reduce operational pollution risks while improving resource management.
The reported reductions at Holfontein offer measurable evidence of the programme’s environmental performance, although the company has not specified the absolute volumes of leachate or contaminated stormwater avoided.
EnviroServ said it intends to continue developing its sustainability strategy and implementing measures to protect essential waste infrastructure and natural resources.
With more than 20 hectares already temporarily capped across its landfill operations, the programme demonstrates how targeted infrastructure interventions can contribute to water conservation, pollution prevention and climate resilience.
The 2026 CAIA Water Award recognises these efforts while drawing attention to the wider responsibility of industrial operators to manage their environmental impact and protect the communities surrounding their facilities.
