[GALLERY + VIDEO]: Illegal dumping clarified and cleaned up
“This is a catastrophe and anyone else who sees this will think it’s their given right to offload rubble as it looks like just another dumping ground.”
AS the scourge of dumping rubble and building material in the South of Johannesburg continues, a resident contacted the Comaro CHRONICLE on October 17, informing us of an amount of rubble and branded materials which had been dumped on wetlands, along Swartkoppies Road.
Doors, make-up charts, cupboard carcasses and other building rubble branded with international make-up giant, Bobbi Brown’s name, had been strewn all over a section of the wetland, as well as wooden pallets and beams indicating The Glen Shopping Centre.
“This is a catastrophe and anyone else who sees this will think it’s their given right to offload rubble as it looks like just another dumping ground.
“Thankfully, this time evidence can be seen to who the rubble belongs to, although they are not to blame, but a contractor who dumped it all here,” said the resident.
On the morning of October 18, the very same resident who first saw the rubble contacted the CHRONICLE advising all the branded items had been removed but the rest of the rubble was still there.
Later that day and into the evening, a team from Bluchip Retail Solutions, who had claimed responsibility for the dumping of the materials and rubble, was sent to the site and began the massive clean-up. The clean-up carried on on Friday and into the weekend.
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“One of our contractors was responsible for this and he has been removed from his duties,” said CEO of Bluchip Retail Solutions, Brett Stagman, who met with the reporter onsite on October 19.
“We will be cleaning up this piece of wetland of all building rubble and in doing so giving back to the community.”
The Glen Shopping Centre, Edcon and Bobbi Brown were asked for comment.
Comments from The Glen Shopping Centre (Hyprop), Edcon and Estée Lauder Companies
“Hyprop is committed to sustainability and ensuring minimal impact on our natural environment. We take any contraventions from our policy very seriously.
“It has come to our attention that a third party supplier to one of our tenants has been dumping material in an irresponsible manner. We strongly condemn these actions, which are not in line with our environmental policy.
“All tenants and in turn their third party suppliers and contractors are required to adhere to Hyprop’s stringent policy in terms of responsible waste disposal. We are investigating the matter to ensure similar incidents do not reoccur.
“We have identified the contractor responsible and this matter will be addressed immediately.”
Spokesperson for Edgars, said, “Edgars is committed to the sustainability of a healthy environment and the preservation of our fragile ecosystems. We view matters of this nature very seriously and condemn the indiscriminate disposing of waste materials.
“Edgars has a waste and rubble disposal process that is outsourced to third party suppliers. All suppliers and contractors are communicated to and must adhere to Edgars’ strict procedures with regards to responsible waste and rubble disposal.
“With regards to this incident, Bluchip Retail Solutions, the company contracted to remove the rubble from Edgars, The Glen, has been suspended with immediate effect, pending an investigation. We can also confirm that the rubble has since been removed.”
Claire Kramer, earned and owned media manager / corporate communications lead, Estée Lauder Companies, said: “Thank you for contacting us regarding this matter. Bobbi Brown takes situations like this very seriously, and we are committed to upholding our high environmental and safety policy standards.
“After hearing of this matter we quickly connected with Edgars and have learned this matter has been addressed and rectified. We believe the Edgars team has also been in contact with you regarding this matter as well and will be able to provide you with any further information as you require.”
Ward 23 councillor Sarah Wissler added, “My ward has seen lots of rubble being dumped and this has to stop. We will not tolerate it any longer.”
“I’m extremely happy this incident has been turned around and I hope it’ll be a lesson for other companies and building contractors who are responsible for all of the dumping in the South of Johannesburg and other areas,” said the resident.
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