Refuse removal: “Metro’s biggest hurdle is availability of trucks” says MMC
MMC for Environmental Resource and Waste said te reopening of the Weltevreden and Rooikraal landfill sites, which has further exasperated the refuse removal debacle and contributed to lengthy turn-around time should take place at the beginning of October.
Commenting on the ongoing refuse removal backlog, Kempton Park’s André du Plessis, MMC for Environmental Resource and Waste Management, stated that the metro’s biggest hurdle is still the availability of trucks.
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“We are working tirelessly to get additional trucks on the road to return to the normal schedules,” he said.
“By now most areas are being serviced weekly, although it may not yet be on the scheduled days.
“Information regarding service days and areas is still being circulated by ward councillors via their Service Delivery WhatsApp groups.
He continued by saying that backlogs pertaining to the servicing of blue skips at complexes remains unresolved.
“We only have two trucks for this service, both of which have been in service for more than seven years and as a result breakdown regularly,” he said.
“Management at complexes that have not been serviced must please report the matter to the CoE’s call centre for reference numbers to be sent through to the waste removal depot for prioritisation.”
Du Plessis further stated that the reopening of the Weltevreden and Rooikraal landfill sites, which has further exasperated the refuse removal debacle and contributed to lengthy turn-around time should take place at the beginning of October.
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Both sites were closed at the end of June due to contract negotiations not having been reached.
Closure of the sites resulted in trucks having to travel to landfills in Chloorkop, Kempton Park and Platkop, Heidelberg which according to the department led to the initial removal backlog.
It has since come to light that alleged sabotage of vehicles servicing both Benoni and Boksburg led to further backlogs resulting in domestic wheelie bins overflowing, while some areas have not been serviced for more than six weeks.
Executive Mayor Tania Campbell and MMCs have met with senior officials within waste management departments to resolve the backlog.
“The mayor has taken a hard line on this issue and will be implementing consequences management for officials who have underperformed in their respective duties,” said Warren Gwilt, mayoral spokesperson.
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