According to ward councillor Lornette Joseph, in a post on a community Whatsapp group today, the Hospital Road dumpsite, in Northmead, was recently reopend after it had to be closed because it was full.
“It may close again for a short period again today and tomorrow,” she said.
MMC for environment and waste management Andre du Plessis confirmed this and that the waste department is facing challenges due to the Weltevreden landfill, in Brakpan, being closed.
“I am working continuously to get the Weltevreden landfill site open as soon as possible, as it will alleviate the plethora of waste removal complaints and backlogs from Boksburg, Benoni and Brakpan,” he said.
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“The large Platkop site, near Alberton, is now overwhelmed with the daily door-to-door waste truck from these towns and the mini dump contractors all having to use this facility.
“Some turnaround times of up to three hours are being experienced, especially when it rains. It is one of the main priorities to get the Weltevreden landfill site open as a matter of urgency.
Councillor Joseph said the rain and muddy conditions, overloaded landfill sites as well as the fact that trucks are having to drive to Germiston and Heidelberg to landfills, are the reason the Hospital Road dump had to be closed.
“Skips here are full and they can only let people in to dump when skips are available,” she said.
“I was upset to hear that residents are dumping outside of the dump on the pavement or throwing bags over th wall of the dump.
“Next everyone will get upset because of the state of the pavements and the dump and demand that it’s cleaned.
“What particularly upset me is the reports that residents have become aggressive towards the staff, swearing at them and even taken to calling the staff very ugly names.
“It is disgusting that people feel that they can speak to others like that and I fully understand when the staff are rude back.
“They cannot let you in if there is no space to dump. We have made all stakeholders aware of the issue and this is something the MMC is aware of and busy with.
“In the meanwhile, please if the dump is closed know that they are either busy cleaning it to make space or they are full. And I implore you, speak to the staff in the same way you would like to be spoken to.”
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