Big stink over refuse removal backlog

For the past three weeks, residents have been left with wheelie bins overflowing with rubbish and removal trucks not making weekly rounds or arriving days after schedule.

At the beginning of July, the City Times reported that the initial backlogs were caused due to the temporary closure of the Weltevreden Landfill Site.

At the time André du Plessis, MMC for Environment and Waste Management Services, said that stakeholders were locked in negotiations with the site after its contract with the facility expired on June 30.

Negotiations, which were then already in their sixth month, were expected to be wrapped up by July 7. Dumping was then being diverted to the Chloorkop landfill in Kempton Park as well as Platkop in Heidelberg, resulting in a two-day backlog expected to be cleared.

It has been confirmed that Weltevreden is still temporarily closed.

To add further strain to the system, many of the fleet vehicles have broken down, leaving the CoE with less than 50% functional vehicles to service Benoni and Boksburg.

In a statement received from the Ekurhuleni spokesperson, Zweli Dlamini, the availability of the fleet is urgently being addressed.

“We are sourcing more vehicles to address the backlog, especially in the most severely affected areas,” he said.

“Once additional vehicles are available we will share information with the relevant councillors to communicate to residents when bins will be removed.”

However, it seems that the extended refuse removal backlog has further increased the likelihood of illegal dumping, especially on Railway Avenue, Western Extension.

On July 22, the City Times accompanied Alfie Koekemoer, chairman of the Sector four CPF to an open piece of land behind Huis Conradie, where mounds of discarded rubbish were found.

“During patrols, we spotted a known rubbish picker dragging a wheelie bin to the open piece of land. We found him dumping the contents before collecting recyclable goods,” said Koekemoer.

“There was evidence that the bin belonged to a local business, which he confirmed promised to pay him R50 to empty the bins.

“We are all affected by this backlog and businesses with overflowing rubbish are resorting to these tactics, not caring where the bins are emptied.”

According to Ward 28 Clr Mary Goby, residents are understandably irate with the situation and demanding answers and solutions.

“We hope that we will be seeing a turn-around in service delivery in the coming week as more vehicles become available and kindly ask residents to remain patient while we actively tend to the matter,” she said.

Ward 27 Clr Lornette Joseph echoed the sentiments.

“We are grateful to have an MMC who is not only working tirelessly to resolve this issue but is keeping an open line of communication,” she said.

“As councillors, we encourage residents to join our WhatsApp service delivery groups to receive up-to-date information.”

Dlamini apologised for the inconvenience caused and asure the city is doing everything in its power to resolve the matter.

At the time of going to print the City Times was informed that priority facilities, such as the city’s local hospitals, have been serviced weekly and are therefore not being affected by the backlog.

ALSO READ: No refuse removal in Benoni, because of boots

ALSO READ: Diesel shortage to blame for backlog of refuse removal