Continuous efforts by the Vorna Valley Residents Association to reach consensus with informal recyclers near Greig and Allandale roads have proved futile following their recent attempt on 18 January.
Chairperson of the association Marianne Nel said the eight informal recyclers who have turned the area into their weekday home were not sticking to the agreement they had reached at their last meeting. She added that the association accompanied by members of TRS Security and Phambili Services met with the recyclers to come up with a solution to the various health and crime-related complaints attributed to them by residents.
“Residents have been complaining that the informal recyclers were making the place dirty,” she said.
“It stinks and there are rats. There have also been complaints of crime suspected to be committed by the recyclers.”
Nel added that on the day of their visit, they helped the recyclers clean up and put their recyclables in bags provided by Phambili Services, a recycling service company. “They [recyclers] were happy and agreed that they would use Phambili Services to trade their goods [with] which would also help keep the place clean. We don’t want to chase them away because we understand they are earning a living but we must work together to keep the place safe and clean.”
Harry Raphuti, a field manager at Phambili Services said the informal recyclers give the company a call once they have their recyclables assembled. The company collects their goods in bulk bags and takes it to their workshop in Clayville. “We dispatch a truck that takes their recyclables,” he said.
“We then weigh and buy it from them instead of them having to push their load on freeways to get to us.”
Raphuti added that since meeting with the group of recyclers they had received at least a call per week from them.
Nel said they would be arranging another meeting with PikitUp, Metro police and Phambili Services to further seek a solution to the matter.
What are your views about informal recyclers? Tweet us @MidrandReporter