Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to appoint a qualified service provider to perform external waste audits on waste management facilities (WMFs) within the Knysna Municipal area. The audits aim to monitor compliance with Waste Management Licences (WMLs), Environmental Management Programmes (EMPrs), and associated permit conditions, ensuring that waste activities adhere to environmental legislation and licensing requirements. Additionally, the audits will verify the effectiveness of mitigation measures implemented during the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process and facilitate reporting to the Licensing Authority.

Scope

The scope of work includes:

• Conducting external audits of designated WMFs listed in section 5.1, assessing compliance with all permit, WML, and EMPr conditions (excluding appeal and decommissioning conditions).
• Evaluating the level of compliance with permit conditions, boundary fencing, disposal methods, and operational practices.
• Assessing specific conditions related to decommissioning (if applicable), such as submission of closure reports, supervision by registered professionals, and infrastructure maintenance.
• Monitoring environmental impacts such as flies, dust, odour, litter, noise, and health risks.
• Reviewing water sampling and analysis in accordance with permit conditions.
• Assessing compliance with environmental legislation, including NEMA, SEMAs, and relevant water regulations.
• Providing recommendations for amendments to permits or WMLs where necessary.
• Producing final audit reports in the prescribed DEA & DP format, including compliance assessments, photographic records, and recommendations.
• Performing site inspections, with one inspection per WMF, and submitting reports within 30 days of each audit.

Technical Requirements

The technical requirements for the audits include:

• Performing independent, external audits of WMFs based on permit and licence conditions.
• Utilizing ISO 14001 Standard procedures for environmental audits, with preference given to bidders proposing to adhere to this standard.
• Engaging qualified professionals with experience in waste facility audits, environmental legislation, and compliance monitoring.
• Providing detailed methodology, including site inspections, record reviews, water sampling, and stakeholder consultations.
• Recommending permit variations with justified reasons where applicable.
• Ensuring audits cover all relevant permit conditions, operational practices, infrastructure, and environmental impacts.
• Submitting comprehensive reports in the DEA & DP format, including compliance ratings, photographic evidence, and improvement recommendations.

Skills and Experience Requirements

The successful bidder must demonstrate:

• Proven experience in conducting external environmental audits of waste management facilities, with at least 4-5 similar projects in the last 8 years, and preferably more than 8 projects for extensive experience.
• Knowledge of South African environmental legislation, including NEMA, Waste Act, and water regulations.
• Familiarity with permit conditions, WMLs, EMPrs, and environmental impact assessment processes.
• Competence in environmental management systems, particularly ISO 14001 standards.
• Qualified personnel, including a Project Manager with 2-4 years’ experience in waste facility audits and supporting staff with relevant environmental qualifications and registration.
• Ability to provide site-specific recommendations, permit variation justifications, and detailed compliance assessments.
• Capacity to produce high-quality, detailed audit reports within specified timeframes, adhering to DEA & DP formatting standards.
• Demonstrated punctuality and ability to meet deadlines, with penalties applicable for late submissions.