He had the following questions for the metro (answers supplied by Themba Gadebe, metro spokesperson):
Q: I have spoken with neighbours this morning, asking why they were waiting around, to which I received the response that bins are being stolen and they wanted to take them back inside once the refuse had been collected. How does someone who works full time get around this?
A: The theft of the 240l bins supplied by Ekurhuleni Metro is unfortunate and, should a bin be stolen, please submit an affidavit with all the relevant details, and the bin will be replaced.
Q: As the bins are the property of the council, are we allowed to mark them, or will this been seen as damage to council property?
A: It is advisable to mark your bin with either the house or stand number, so that the bin can be easily identified. This also serves, to some extent, as a deterrent to the thieves.
Q: It has been noted that the people who are trying to make a living through recycling are removing bags from the bins and not putting them back into the bin, and these bags are, subsequently, not collected.
A: A great effort is being made to educate recyclers, but there is no formal forum to do so regularly, therefore this is done when they are encountered while recycling. Topics that are addressed during these sessions include the replacement of the bags into the bins and the effect of littering on the environment, as well as personal hygiene and well-being.
Q: What is the cost implication of receiving new bins and how is this justified along with the other increases which are higher than inflation?
A: The 240l bin system makes provision for the levying of services in terms of the volume of refuse generated. The monthly cost to pick up, transport and dispose of the contents of a 240l bin per week is R120.36, excluding VAT. The tariffs are based on business principles, where one pays for the volume of refuse that is generated. The same principle is applied to payment in respect of water, sewerage and electricity consumption.
Q: May I stop my fee charged from the council and arrange for private collections?
A: The Solid Waste By-Laws, Chapter 2, Section 2 makes provision that the owner/occupant of a premises shall be liable for payment in respect of the collection and removal of refuse, with the understanding that where the council renders a service, whether the service is used or not, the owner/occupant will still be responsible for the payment of the applicable tariff.
For any further enquiries, residents may contact the Boksburg Waste Management depot on 011 999-6277/5446/5310/5423, between 7am and 3.30pm on weekdays.
