A bund system for the retention of solid or liquid or pourable waste material; bunds of the bund system comprising retaining structures; the retaining structures including at least one vertical structural element relative a base; the base covering a portion of a ground surface; the bunds maintained in a selected position on the ground surface by interaction of the retaining elements with a mass of compacted material.
Also disclosed is a method of forming a waste retention area by enclosing the waste retention area by bunds; the bunds comprising at least one substantially vertical retaining structure relative a base extending over a portion of a ground surface; the method including the steps of; positioning retaining structures on the ground surface to form an enclosed area; horizontal base panels of the retaining structures facing inwards to the enclosed area, welding overlap portions of sealing elements at adjacent vertical and horizontal joints between adjoining retaining structures, placing an impervious liner over the ground surface of the enclosed area, welding edges of the impervious liner to edges of sealing elements at inward edges of the horizontal base panels.