Challenges at dump still causing frustration
The site will be partially operational by the end of June.
The Weltevreden Landfill Site has been ‘temporarily’ closed for almost a year now much to the frustration of community members.
The City of Ekurhuleni notified members of the public of the temporary closure on July 1, last year.
Ward 97 Clr Brandon Pretorius told the Brakpan Herald this week the reason for the site’s closure is unknown.
“The main reason for the delayed opening at the time was that the appointed contractor withdrew,” he said.
“The site, under the previous multi-party coalition government, was supposed to be reopened by the end of March this year, however, due to unknown reasons the site remains closed.”
He explained he met with officials from the Department of Environment and Waste Management Services last Wednesday to gain on-site clarity on the way forward.
“The department confirmed that the site will be partially operational by the end of June to service internal waste removal by accommodating municipal waste removal trucks. This excludes private companies,” said Pretorius.
Following his visit, the site was opened to members of the public to use the off-loading facility to dump excess domestic waste, building rubble and garden refuse.
“This has been done to assist residents as the two mini-dumpsites in the town do not accommodate disposal of such in bulk,” said Pretorius.
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“The site will be temporarily maintained through a plant hiring tender. The ongoing continued closure of the site has a huge effect on the residents of Brakpan and the state of the environment directly opposite the site poses a health risk to residents.
“This is indeed a crisis and it is currently not being treated as such by the current administration. I will keep the community informed on any new developments on the way forward. I plead with residents of Brakpan not to be part of the problem and to avoid illegally dumping in our town at all cost.
“I will continue to enforce pressure on the department. I have submitted formal questions to council for an oral response from the MMC for the Department of Environment and Waste Management Services. I will provide the responses to the community once received to guide us on the way forward.”
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While the site being opened to members of the public will be welcomed by many, some have already reported experiencing problems.
A community member who attempted to dispose of his refuse at Weltevreden on Monday was turned away from the site because he was travelling in a branded company vehicle. It was claimed he was from a private company.
The man took to social media to share his frustration and wrote that he tried to explain that the vehicle belonged to the company for which he works but the rubbish was his own. He was not permitted to off-load his refuse.
