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12 August 2021 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied
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

Sought-after title warms heart doctor’s heart
2013-10-02

02 October 2013

Prof Stephen Brown was recently named as Ons Stad’s Bloemfonteiner of the Year, a title Prof Brown views as “one of the greatest moments” of his life.

Prof Brown, a cardiologist in the University of the Free State’s (UFS’) Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, has dedicated his life to children’s hearts ever since he qualified as paediatrician.

He is also involved in the teaching of under- and postgraduate students, as well as the training of doctors in paediatric cardiology. He is also jointly responsible for the planning and compilation of the undergraduate training programme for final-year students.

“This title is truly one of the greatest moments of my life. I feel humbled and impressed by the quality of the nominations for the title, which makes me feel small among the others.

“As physician I appreciate it even more, because this award means that the people of our wonderful city value the achievements and work of the doctors in our city – this warms my heart.”

Under Prof Brown’s leadership, Bloemfontein’s Paediatric Cardiology Unit is the only certified and recognised unit for pulmonary-valve implants in Africa.

The development of a local prenatal fetal heart screening and diagnostic programme, as well as adult congenital heart clinics, is due to his work and passion for his study field.

At the World Congress in 2013, he was involved as operator from South Africa in the first ‘direct telecast’ of children’s heart procedures.

“I hope that the award will help in our campaign to raise awareness in the community about children’s heart diseases.  They are, after all, the people I work for."

The UFS also congratulates Sheri Brynard on her nomination for the title. Paul Colditz, the winner for 2012, is also a UFS Board member.

 

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