Residents shocked by dumped medical waste
Heather Rorick is concerned that someone is dumping medical waste on the pavement in Hunt Road.
MYSTERY surrounds the source of medical waste dumped on the pavement in Hunt Road.
According to Bulwer Community Safety Forum’s chairperson, Heather Rorick, she was contacted by a community member last week who reported that bags of urine wrapped in plastic grocery packets had been dumped on the pavement.
Rorick said she had immediately contacted the municipality on Wednesday to have the bags removed on but they were still there the following day.
“This is the second time I have been told about this problem. Last month I contacted the municipality and was told a specialised unit in DSW was tasked with removing medical waste from public areas. It was picked up last month, and now I have received another call about the same problem,” she said.
Rorick said she was concerned that the bags were left lying on the pavement for so long before being collected.
“The bags are full of urine, it’s disgusting that this can be dumped on the side of the road. I have no idea where this could come from and why this would be dumped on the road. The community need to know that if they come across this sort of thing, they are not to touch or move it, but should contact DSW to have it removed immediately,” she said.
In response, eThekwini Head of Communications, Tozi Mthethwa, said officials had carried out a site inspection and discovered the bag filled with urine bags. “This was immediately classified as health care risk waste, the officials attempted to identify the source of the waste but no traces were found. The waste was disposed of at the nearest municipal clinic,” she said.
She said residents who suspect that they have come across dumped medical waste are urged to call 031 311 3555 for assistance.
