Residents form task team to tackle illegal dumping in Glenhills
In recent months, illegal dumping has worsened with mounds of litter, and in the most recent case, raw fish, being dumped along Ryde Place near residents’ homes.
RESIDENTS of Glenhills voiced their frustrations at a public meeting last week over the continual illegal dumping on Ryde Place and Malacca Road, which has been a long-standing problem in the area.
In recent months, the issue has worsened with mounds of litter, and in the most recent case, raw fish, being dumped along Ryde Place near residents’ homes.
Much of the dumping happens within metres of the municipal dump on Malacca Road.
Ward 110 Councillor Aamir Abdul invited several municipal departments to the public meeting held at the Rivers Church. However, only a representative from Metro Police and Durban Solid Waste (DSW) attended.
Related Story: Illegal dumping on Malacca Road continues
Several suggestions were proposed at the meeting, including controlling access to the dump, using a boom-gate system, and installing cameras to catch illegal dumpers in the act.
“A positive that came from the meeting was the formation of a task team to help find solutions to the scourge of illegal dumping,” said Abdul. “The issue of illegal dumping has spiralled out of control to a point where it has become a massive health threat. As the dumping moves closer to residential homes, it has become a breeding ground for rats, snakes and flies.
“Many of the suggested proposals have some merit, and through the formation of this task team, we hope to air them out with the relevant municipal departments. In that respect, it was productive. The residents also got to hear from the various role-players in the area, including the Glenhills Ratepayers Association, the Greater Together Foundation (GTF) and Greenwood Park CPF,” he explained.
Abdul said the task team would meet at least once a month to discuss ways to prevent illegal dumping.
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While some residents of the Malacca Road Informal Settlement have admitted to taking items destined for the dump, they say the vast majority of illegal dumping is done by contractors discarding building rubble and material.
“Some residents did agree that some elements within the settlement encourage illegal dumping. However, the vast majority of dumping is being carried out by contractors who work in the area or are from outside the ward. The municipal dump on Malacca Road is only a garden refuse site, but there are people dumping building rubble, broken pieces of concrete and asbestos roofing and pipes. We did have a commitment from the GTF with the possibility of installing cameras to catch and prosecute those involved in illegal dumping. All that is needed is to raise funds to bring this idea to fruition,” he said.
