Illegal dumping poses health risks
The department of Environmental Health Services has urged people to report illegal dumping.
THE increase of illegal dumping around the Upper Highway area has prompted the Environmental Health Services to team up with other municipal departments to stop people from dumping illegally.
Illegal dumping in areas especially in Embo and Molweni has increased and is putting pressure on the waste management services.
Manager of the Environmental Health Department in Waterfall, Baba Mantambo said it seems pollution still remains a huge problem and poses continuous health risks as a whole despite efforts that have been made over the years to clean up the environment.
“In the Outer West area, illegal dumping continues to be a huge issue despite efforts of enforcement and community involvement,” said Mantambo.
Mantambo said businesses trying to avoid disposal fees and landfill sites, landfill site being closed down, people not wanting to spend time and effort disposing or recycling waste properly, lack of sufficient waste collection services and people being lazy and ignorant are the huge factors which contribute to illegal dumping in the upper Highway areas.
“Environmental Health services has a legal mandate to ensure that the environment in which people live is conducive to healthy living and is one that is free of disease and harm for the present and future generations,” added Mantambo.
He said together with other concerned municipal departments, Metro Police, Durban Solid Waste, Road and Storm Water, Parks
Department and Environmental Health have implemented a plan of action to stop illegal dumpings. The department pleads with the community to help fight illegal dumping by reporting illegal dumpers to the Environmental Health Services Office on 031 311 6956 as this problem affects the community as a whole.
