Ongoing dumping forces Kloof Recycling Depot to close

LAMBASTED as ‘unhygienic’ and a ‘health hazard’ by a local organisation and the area’s ward councillor, the Kloof Recycling Depot’s closure has become a strong point of contention among the local community.

It’s a dump

“The recycling depot is now closed and this site has to go,” said the Ward 10 councillor, Tex Collins.

“I was promised as far back as January this year that it would be removed. The blame has to be laid on many of the people in Kloof, as residents have not been playing the game as there are things being dropped off here that cannot be recycled.”

During an on-site visit by the Highway Mail, halogen light bulbs, used nappies, general rubbish, rubble from contractors and uncleaned plastic and tins were found at the recycling depot.

This issue was first highlighted by the paper in April 2019 and has since continued unabated.

Collins noted that a front-end loader was called in during the first few weeks of lockdown and that it was in a pristine condition.

“It looked quite good for a week. Many Kloof residents don’t adhere to normal recycling norms. The site is too big and too unmanageable to be a success. Over a period of years, it has been allowed to carry on like this. People may not like me for it, but it is unhygienic, it smells. One only needs to look at it to see that the stuff that has been dropped off, should not be here,” said Collins.

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First-hand experience
Ernest Gugushe, a worker at the recycling depot, said one of the many challenges he faces is that he is unable to sell plastic at the site because it is dirty and, without readily available running water at the site, he is unable to clean it.

“Another problem is that the site is open for 24 hours a day and anyone can come at any time and drop off whatever goods they want. I am not here to stop them as I work from 9am to 4pm, every day of the week,” said Gugushe.

“People are using it as a dump! They leave wooden goods and contractors drop off their rubble and then I have to try and get trucks in to remove the waste. The orange bags have the list of the goods that can be dropped off. I am only one man who is now trying to sort out all of Kloof’s recycling. People need to be taught how to recycle and what can be recycled,” he said.

Bev Fowles of The Kloof Project, originally the Keep Kloof Beautiful Association, noted that the organisation performed a site revamp that included the installation of poles, a hut and a fence, towards the end of 2010.

This was followed by a formal re-opening ceremony in February 2011.

Fowles received Certificates of Recognition from the Keep Durban Beautiful Association in 2011 and 2015, acknowledging her tireless efforts.

“The area where the recycling depot is located is owned by the eThekwini Municipality. The depot took in cardboard, glass, cans, paper, most plastics, and small electronic items. The only thing we didn’t handle here were light bulbs. W stopped running the depot five years ago,” she Fowles.

As a member of the KZN Recycling Forum, she was devastated by the current state of the depot.

“It is a health hazard as there are rats and snakes. A lot of what is here now goes to the landfill. I worked here for months on end from 8am to 6pm and to see it like this, it breaks my heart,” said Fowles.

Collins said the Kloof Recycling Depot is now closed and Highway residents are urged to find an alternative space to drop off their recycling.

“There needs to be a 24-hour guard for at least two weeks so that people know it is closed,” noted Collins.

Future plans

“We are hoping to set up another recycling depot that will be run solely by The Kloof Project. We will take in all plastics that can be recycled and endeavour to work in conjunction with landfills to make sure that nothing is being dumped there that they cannot handle,” said Fowles.

At the new, as yet unspecified site, The Kloof Project will ensure all Covid-19 regulations are adhered to and will be followed. The non-profit organisation also plans to host classes to teach people what goods are accepted at the recycling site and how to recycle.

The Ward 10 councillor, Tex Collins, agreed with Fowles regarding the need for a new site.

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Show of support
Leigh Bradbury, a Msinsi Road resident, said the recycling depot was a necessary addition to the Kloof area. “There are so many who come here and make use of it correctly and we support the man who works here. To close it down completely would not be beneficial to our community or to Ernest,” said Bradbury.

She said the new site should include CCTV cameras and that fines should be given to those who do not adhere to the bylaws.

“There are so many community members who volunteer their time to help remove the waste. We live in Kloof, we look after our parks, we pay our rates and taxes and we would like to keep our suburb looking beautiful,” she said.

The eThekwini Municipality did not respond to questions by the time the article was published.

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