Bedfordview needs a garden waste site – Humphreys
Despite numerous cleaning initiatives in Bedfordview, Humphreys said there seems to be no support from the City of Ekurhuleni.
Bedfordview ward councillor Jill Humphreys believes a garden waste site in the area will be welcomed by residents and organisations alike.
She told the NEWS that residents and organisations stepped in to clean the area following a “complete lack of grass cutting and clearing”.
But, despite numerous cleaning initiatives in Bedfordview, Humphreys said there seems to be no support from the City of Ekurhuleni.
The City, however, has said that it is in support of cleaning initiatives.
“Requests for assistance during or after initiatives such as clean-up campaigns should, before commencing with the campaign, be directed to the office of the executive manager or divisional head of waste management, who will then delegate to the relevant depot management team,” said the spokesperson for the City, Zweli Dlamini.
Humphreys, however, said to the NEWS that residents and organisations have received little support following clean-up campaigns.
“Black bags filled with cuttings cleared from verges and pavements by residents and organisations, have been left at the side of roads for months.
“One only needs to look at Boeing Road East. The bags have been there for so long the new weed growth almost covers them,” said Humphreys.
She added that organisations such as Better Bedfordview constantly work to make Bedfordview beautiful.
“Bedfordview residents are proud of the suburb they live in. They want to live in a clean space and they are prepared to help where they can but without support these cleaning imitative mean nothing.”
Humphreys believes an easy solution would be the incorporation of a green waste site in Bedfordview.
“The residents of the area have nowhere, in the area, to take their green garden waste.”
Humphreys believes that there is a perfectly suited site at Gillooly’s Farm.
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“The site can be used by council to generate compost, which can then be sold back to the residents for use in their gardens.”
Dlamini said councillors should place capital project needs on the IDP (integrated development plan).
“This development plan is revised annually and approved capital projects are then included in the capital budget.”
“Only after the project is registered on the IDP the relevant division (environmental protection, resilience and project management) will attend to the identification of suitable sites and other compliance matters”.
He agreed that a garden refuse site in Bedfordview would be ideal.
“A green waste site would be beneficial to the residents in Bedfordview/Edenvale, but the establishment of such a site is very costly and can only be considered after an appropriate site is identified and all compliance issues have been finalised”.
Another issue identified by Humphreys was continual problems with PPE in the parks department, which has further delayed clean-up processes.
She called on the City to resolve outstanding PPE issues within the department to allow employees to complete their jobs.
She said that previously acquired PPE including overalls and boots were of inferior quality and would tear and break after only one use.
“Without this essential PPE, employees within the parks department cannot complete their duties”.
The NEWS submitted questions to the City regarding PPE in the department, these questions were not answered.
Dlamini did remind residents that the cleanliness of the City is not the sole responsibility of the Council.
“Every resident and business have a civic responsibility toward the cleanliness of the environment we live in. All residents and businesses are called upon not to litter, not to dump refuse illegally, and to place out refuse only on the day of refuse removal,” he said.
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