Residents of Dayanglen and surrounding areas are breathing a sigh of relief now that the metro is finally cleaning the rotting mountains of waste at the mini dumpsite located among the community.
For a couple of weeks, life had become a living hell for residents of the area who were forced to put up with the stinky mounds of rubbish at the overflowing dumpsite.
Among the most affected were the children and staff at the school (Aspiration Academy) and households located next to the dump.
“We are happy that the problem is finally being attended to. The situation is much better than what we had been subjected to in the last couple of weeks.
“The flies are gradually becoming fewer in number since they started cleaning here. The smell is still here, but we hope it will also begin to dissipate after everything has been removed,” said the school’s Rikus Koster.
The site remains closed to the public to allow workers to finish their clean-up operation.
In the meantime, residents are advised to use alternative sites, such as the nearby dump in Witfield.
Before-and-after pictures show the different state of the site:
The disgusting situation arose after rubbish piled up until the dump site reached full capacity while the metro was reportedly grappling with contractor issues.
The poor waste management saw the unbearable smell from the mountains of garbage permeate the entire area. It also made the facility a breeding ground for carriers of diseases, posing a serious health risk for people living next to the facility.
The terrible fumes and the overwhelming infestation of rats, flies, mosquitos, cockroaches and other insects drove the community crazy.
Residents have had to use flycatchers, but the flies were far too many to control. When they got rid of them, another swarm would come buzzing in from the dump site.
Ward councillor Ashley Hoods told this publication that municipal officials told him that the stinking problem at the site was because the contractor failed to perform the agreed obligation stipulated in the contract.
Also Read: WATCH: Mini dumpsite harms the health of locals
