Residents concerned over illegal dumping
Ward councillor, Shaun Ryley has requested a meeting with Durban Solid Waste (DSW) where he hopes they will find an amicable solution.
ILLEGAL dumping along Roadhouse Crescent, near Buttery Road has not abated two months after Durban North ward councillor, Shaun Ryley expressed his concerns and called it ‘disgusting’.
Ryley said the illegal dumping had spiralled out of control after cardboard collectors, who initially set-up an informal base on Riverside Road were moved by Metro Police and pressured by uMgeni Park residents.
He said there had been engagements with the departments who he said should be taking responsibility. He said they had also put forward the idea of creating a facility for the cardboard collectors to operate from.
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“We have put in a request to create a facility for these guys that will be closed off so that the mess can be contained within that area. But the departments we have put that to have not made any efforts to try and pursue that.
“We have also put in a request for the fence to be put in that area to prevent the illegal dumping. The reality is that if we chase these guys away, they will go and do it somewhere else and that is not the solution. We need to assist them in keeping it clean and making sure it does not become someone else’s problem,” said Ryley
Ryley said he will have an on-site meeting with Durban Solid Waste (DSW) where he will meet senior officials and get some clarity. Metro Police enforcement would also be needed he said.
Ryley urged members of the public who witnesses illegal dumping to report it.
Read also:Buttery Road back in the spotlight
George Ndlovu who is one of the cardboard collectors who operates from that area said, “We do not like what they are doing to us, we are not stealing from anyone, we are trying to make a living. They were the ones that moved us from where we were initially and told us to come here.”
Contrary to what the residents have to say, Simphiwe Jali said they have made efforts in trying to keep their space clean and minimise the mess.
“We now collect all the garbage and put it in the green bags for DSW to collect. We also guard the area against illegal dumping, we chase dumpers away. We also guard against copper theft but they do not acknowledge all the good we do here,” said Jali.
Jali said that sometimes they cannot clean up properly because they do not get the DSW refuse bags which would help them in collecting garbage.
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