KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa – Around World Environment Day, Veolia brought together national and local authorities, industry representatives, civil society organizations and private-sector partners at its Dolphin Coast Landfill Management (DCLM) facility in KwaDukuza to showcase two pioneering infrastructures that are helping strengthen environmental security in South Africa: the country's first solar farm installed on an operational landfill and one of Africa's leading large-scale water reuse facilities.
Together, these two sites demonstrate how innovative resource management can address some of today's most pressing environmental challenges by accelerating decarbonization, preserving water resources and supporting the resilience of communities, industries and territories.
The event welcomed senior representatives from government and local municipalities, including Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Narend Singh, KwaDukuza Municipality Mayor Sduduzo Siegfried Gumede, and eThekwini Municipality Mayor Cyril Xaba, alongside representatives from non-governmental organizations, Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs), and the private sector. Their participation reflected a shared commitment to advancing practical solutions that support South Africa's environmental and economic development.
The visit began with the official inauguration of the expanded renewable energy infrastructure at Veolia’s DCLM facility. Covering more than half a hectare and with an installed capacity of 652 kilowatt-peak (kWp), the solar farm is the first installation of its kind on an operational landfill site in South Africa. It marks an important milestone in integrating renewable energy into waste management infrastructure.
Participants also toured the facility's key operational assets, including the Effluent Treatment Plant, Class A landfill, and advanced waste treatment infrastructure. The visit highlighted technologies such as temporary cell capping, which reduces leachate generation, and on-site treatment systems designed to optimize environmental performance while supporting safe and efficient waste management.
The programme continued with a technical visit to the Durban Water Recycling (DWR) facility, another flagship example of Veolia's expertise in resource management. For more than two decades, DWR has demonstrated the long-term viability of large-scale water reuse, supplying high-quality recycled water to industry while preserving valuable drinking water resources.
As Africa's first large-scale municipal water reuse scheme, the facility illustrates how innovation and long-term partnerships can strengthen water security while supporting economic activity. Developed through a unique public-private partnership between eThekwini Municipality, Veolia and industrial partner Mondi, the project remains an international benchmark for sustainable water management.
Together, these two facilities illustrate how complementary environmental solutions can create greater value for territories by combining circular economy principles, renewable energy production and water reuse. They demonstrate how integrated infrastructure can help cities and industries adapt to growing pressures on natural resources while contributing to a more resilient and low-carbon future.
With more than 900 water treatment and recycling facilities operating across over 70 countries, treating approximately 90 million cubic metres of water every day, Veolia continues to deploy proven solutions that strengthen environmental security worldwide. The Group also operates more than 200 water reuse and recycling facilities, positioning the Durban Water Recycling initiative within a global network of recognised expertise.
The event was organized in partnership with SAICRA, a registered Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) under South Africa's Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. By bringing together public authorities, industry and civil society, the initiative highlighted the importance of collaboration in accelerating ecological transformation and delivering practical environmental solutions that benefit both people and the planet.