State of Ekurhuleni landfill sites described as appalling

The DA has lashed out about the state of Ekurhuleni’s landfill sites, which is reported as being a contributing factor to waste collection backlogs.

According to Brackendowns resident Lionel Shaer, Alberton’s solid waste disposal site is one of many which have become a health hazard for locals.

Apart from the unbearable stench, Shaer assured the RECORD waste is seen scattered at this dumpsite.

“I recently visited a site with my gardener to drop off garden refuse, and it was an eyesore. All the bins are full to overflowing and the garden service people are being instructed to dump their waste on the side of the road. In fact, anywhere that they can find a spot,” he said.

He reiterated that this was not a new situation as the piles of rubbish have been there for a while now. Upon asking one of the employees at the dumpsite, he was told the backlog was caused by the unavailability of vehicles to transport waste containers.

However, City of Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said the City remains committed to keeping Ekurhuleni clean at all times by introducing new initiatives.

“Some of our new initiatives include the Keep Ekurhuleni Clean and the CBD Night-Shift programmes. However, to keep the City clean and environmentally friendly, just like the rest of the world, we have experienced certain challenges such as the impact of Covid-19,” he said.

Dlamini said the pandemic has consequently led to a reduction of staff as they introduced a rotational shift system.

“Despite this, we continue to meet our obligations. Where service has been affected, we remain committed to ensuring we improve the turnaround time in removing any backlog that may occur,” he said.

“We hope all residents of the City will take the opportunity to comment and appreciate the committed workers of the City. Despite the scourge of Covid-19, they have continued to render services to the community, which is what we have been doing since the declaration of the lockdown restrictions.”