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New facility enhances responsible waste management at UFS

12 August 2021 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied

Chemical waste_web copy — Tinus Viljoen (second from the left) is responsible for waste management at the university. Here he is pictured at the new chemical waste facility on the western side of the Bloemfontein Campus. With him, on his left, is Nico Janse van Rensburg, Senior Director, University Estates; Prof Danie Vermeulen, Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences; and on the far right is Benedict Mochesela, officer at University Estates.

A new chemical waste facility on the western side of the Bloemfontein Campus started functioning in July 2021 and will enhance the safe storage of hazardous materials on campus.

Since the safety of its staff and students are a key priority for the university, as stipulated in its strategic plan, a facility such as this plays an essential role in reducing any health risks and even the possibility of an explosion.

Tinus Viljoen, a Lecturer in the Department of Genetics, concurs that this facility makes the university a safer place because there are less toxic and flammable waste lying around in the labs.

Besides his role as lecturer, he is responsible for waste management, including the collection of hazardous waste internally, classifying it, and arranging for it to be collected by accredited waste companies.

A safer space

Waste previously stored in the Genetics Building is now kept at the new facility. Viljoen is of the opinion that this new space is safer because fewer students and staff have access to the western campus. “The chemical waste tends to smell, and on this part of the campus it is out of the way,” he says.

He also says that it helps to have a central place to store the waste, because of logistical reasons. “It makes the overall waste management easier.”

It is mainly inorganic and organic liquid/solid waste, contaminated glass, contaminated solids (e.g., filter paper and gloves), acid waste, and expired chemicals that are stored at the facility.

This facility makes the university a safer place because there are less toxic and flammable waste lying around in the labs. – Tinus Viljoen

Adhering to legislation

He explains that he is notified by departments in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences when they have waste to collect and that he then collects it on Fridays.

Viljoen continues: “The chemical waste is then classified according to the various waste streams and stored in large 210 l drums. When the drums are full, I contact an accredited hazardous waste company to remove, transport, and dispose of the various waste according to strict legislation, constituting the National Environmental Management Act (Act 107 of 1998), the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act 59 of 2008), the Hazardous Substances Act (Act 5 of 1973), and the National Road Traffic Act, 93 of 1996 (NRTA).”

“The majority of the waste is transported to a hazardous landfill in Gauteng and the rest are incinerated,” he concludes.

News Archive

UFS staff to get a minimum of 4,71 percent salary increase

2005-11-25

The University of the Free State (UFS) management and trade unions have agreed on a minimum of 4,71 percent salary increase for 2006 as well as a once-off non-pensionable bonus of R1200 payable in December 2005.

The agreement was signed today by representatives of the UFS management and the trade unions, UVPERSU and NEHAWU, in Bloemfontein.

Prof Niel Viljoen, Chief Director: Operations at the UFS and chairperson of the UFS Council’s representatives, and Prof Johan Grobbelaar, chairperson of the joint Union Forum, said: “The bonus is payable in December 2005 in recognition of the role that staff played during the year to promote the UFS as a university of excellence.”

He said the intention is to pass the maximum benefit possible on to staff without exceeding the limits of financial sustainability of the institution.
For this reason the negotiating parties reaffirmed their commitment to the Multiple-year Income-related Remuneration Improvement Model used as a framework for negotiations.

Proff Viljoen and Prof Grobbelaar said one of the factors that influence the model and therefore the negotiations is the level of subsidy the UFS receives from the government.

“As the state subsidy level is unfortunately not yet known, remuneration could vary several percentage points between a window of 4,71 and 5,5 percent. Should the state subsidy be such that the increase would fall outside this window then the parties will renegotiate.”

Proff Viljoen and Prof Grobbelaar said the R1200 bonus is payable to staff members who were in the employ of the UFS on UFS conditions of service on 21 November 2005 and who assumed duties before 1 October 2005. There are however some exceptions.

The agreement signed today also provides for restructuring funds of R752 000 to address partial backlogs in support services, including an increase in the medical allowance of 640 staff members.

The implementation date for the salary adjustment is 1 January 2006, but could be implemented on a later date due to logistical arrangements.

Proff Viljoen and Prof Grobbelaar said the UFS and unions could reach an agreement despite the declining phase in income and the generally more difficult financial environment in which universities operate.

Prof Grobbelaar said salary negotiations are never easy, but the model is an important tool. The model made it possible to tie up salary negotiations for November 2006. “This is unique for any higher education institution.”

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
24 November 2005

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