MORE than half a ton of sodden trash was pulled out of the Palmiet River in four hours by a small group of enthusiastic individuals during the month of November.
Lee D’Eathe from the Palmiet River Watch told the Highway Mail the shocking fact is that most of the trash comes from businesses, drivers, and workers supplying waste to people in the street who extract metal, paper and cardboard; and throw the leftover waste into stormwater drains and directly into the Palmiet River.
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“Electrical cables, old equipment, paper and cardboard is dropped off on the corner of Crompton, Gray Place and Shepstone Road. The copper, aluminum and iron is removed and the rest thrown into the river. Fires are lit to extract metal and sewer manhole covers broken by using them to smash old equipment on; contaminating the air, the soil and the river,” said Lee.
The river champion pointed out that a positive sign is that enlightened property owners have started to take responsibility outside their fence-line and down riverbanks to the middle of the river, where most properties end.
They have realised the unmanaged and overgrown properties encourage undesirable activities.
“People also light fires to burn trash along the river and this should be reported to Pinetown Fire Department (via Durban Emergency 031 361 000).”
One of the business owners, Adrian Cullingworth of Canopy King, said he saw the need to get personally involved with a business team to address the cause of river water pollution at its source instead of continually cleaning up, downstream.
Another business owner, Vinesh Ranjith from Gold Wagon Motor Spares, said they are taking care of all their waste themselves after seeing what was going on and reported that undesirable activities are going on at night.
Lee expressed his thanks to volunteers who committed their time and energy to clear up the pollution along with corporate support from Ridhwaan Moola (Islamic Relief South Africa) and Teressa Shone from Euro Steel.
