With erratic refuse removal and the temporary closure of the Weltevreden Landfill Site, Brakpan has experienced a surge in illegal dumping with volumes of trash and rubble piling up at different sites around town.
There are at least four major hot spots, the most significant of which is the entrance to the landfill site. The site was temporarily closed until further notice on July 1 with the municipality stating this was due to unforeseen circumstances.
Illegal dumping increased significantly in the same area when the site was shut down in October last year following a fire.
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It reopened earlier this year but during its closure, the entrance and surrounding area became swamped in waste.
The eyesore was cleaned but with the gates to the site now closed again, people are dumping their trash at the entrance and along the barrier where Main Reef Road has been closed off.
The volume of discarded waste at this site is growing daily.
Other areas of concern in Brakpan are the open piece of land that stretches along Boundary Road in Brenthurst, End Street in Dalview – where a wetland and its wildlife are being affected by the disposal of household waste and other trash – and along Denne Road and Koot Street in Withok Estates.
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Some of these areas have been plagued by illegal dumping for some time. In Withok Estates, there are fears another settlement inhabited by informal recyclers may be established unless action is taken soon.
A resident reported people are separating the plastic and rubble from other dumped rubbish at the site. The resident also believes the recyclers may be living on the land.
“We acknowledge residents’ frustrations with the refuse collection delays, however, we urge residents not to illegally dump in our town as it obviously has a negative effect,” said Brakpan Ward 97 Clr Brandon Pretorius.
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Residents are urged to report illegal dumping hot spots to the city’s call centre on 0860 543 000 or their respective ward councillors.
Pretorius, whose ward comprises the Brakpan CBD, Brakpan North, Brenthurst and Anzac, may be contacted on 083 308 7821.
The details for the other councillors are:
• Simangele Sabe, Ward 31 (Dalpark Proper and Extensions, excluding Dalpark Ext One and Leachville): 072 234 1025
• Annette Verster, Ward 105 (Dalview, Dalpark Ext One, Larrendale, Kenleaf, Rand Collieries, Denneoord, Vulcania, Sallies Village, Minnebron, Sonneveld, Sunair Park and Carnival Industrial Park): 083 397 0419
Residents are also reminded there are many other landfill sites in Ekurhuleni of which they can make use, including Rietfontein in Springs, Platkop along the N3 in Vosloorus, as well as Simmer and Jack in Germiston.
With regards to refuse removal delays, the City of Ekurhuleni this week stated more trucks have been deployed in areas that have been hardest hit by the waste backlog in recent weeks.
Since late last week through the weekend, the city has been attending to the backlog in affected areas.
Residents who have not received waste removal services in the past couple of weeks will be notified through all the city’s communication platforms of the days on which to take out their bins.
The Herald is awaiting feedback from the municipality about when residents can expect the landfill site to reopen.
