Illegal dumping of both garden refuse and general litter has undeniably increased in the city, but where can residents dispose of both their garden refuse and building rubble?
The waste entity’s spokesperson, Muzi Mkhwanazi, says waste should be kept aside for collection in areas where the Separation at Source Service is available. Alternatively, it should be disposed of at the nearest Pikitup drop-off facility.
Also read: The fight against illegal dumping in Ward 132 continues
The Separation at Source Service refers to the practice of setting aside post-consumer and household waste materials at the point of generation, the household level, so as to prevent them from entering the waste stream which is destined for landfilling.
“Pikitup has 48 garden refuse transfer sites where residents can dispose of light garden waste. The utility provides containers for organic matter at each of these sites. The refuse placed into these containers is then transferred to a disposal site, or taken to a composting site. Sites are open seven days a week, from 08:00 to 17:00,” said Mkhwanazi.
He said many of the transfer sites also have facilities for the deposit of reclaimable products, like paper, plastics, and cans. Some of the sites also have an e-waste recycling facility, for cell phones, televisions, computers, etc.
Also read: Alleged abandoned JCP building used as a drug den in Halfway House, litter piles up
What is garden waste?
Garden waste refers to organic biodegradable waste material generated from the likes of a typical garden or park. It includes both nitrogen-rich and carbon-rich organic material such as grass, leaves, plants, cuttings and trimmings, branches, tree trunks, and stumps.
“This waste should be kept aside and disposed of at the nearest Pikitup drop-off facility. Communities are urged to keep garden waste free of contaminants such as plastic, bricks, metals, glass, etc, to ease the processing of garden waste into compost,” added Mkhwanazi. “The city has developed a network of drop-off facilities across the city, so communities can drop-off their household generated garden waste for the purpose of composting or further processing.”
Wet, or food, waste
Wet, or food, waste consists of kitchen waste, such as fruit and vegetable peels, left-overs, tea leaves, coffee grounds, eggshells, bones, fish scales, and cooked food (both vegetables and non-vegetables). According to a recent Household Food Waste Study, by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Johannesburg households throw away approximately 8 to 12kg of food per capita per annum. Currently, food waste should be disposed of in the 240l bin, while the city investigates alternative waste treatment technologies to recycle food waste.
Read more: JW wastes water, not adhering to their warning – Summerset resident
Details: Visit www.pikitup.co.za for drop-off facilities and landfill sites in your area.
To report illegal dumping call: 0860 562 874, 011 375 5555, 010 055 5990, or WhatsApp: 082 779 1361.
Pikitup Garden Site Address: 25 Cedar Rd, Khayalami AH, Midrand, 1684.
Pikitup Bryanston Dump Site Address: 18 Hobart Rd, Bryanston, Sandton, 2191.
Follow us on our Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok pages. Join our WhatsApp group for any story ideas you may have.
