Fed up with illegal dumping
FAIRLAND – Ward 98 councillor Beverley Weweje and community members are sick and tired of illegal dumping in the area.
The issue of illegal dumping in the Fairland area is something that Ward 98 councillor Beverley Weweje and community members have decided they are sick and tired of.
Residents who may be doing construction work on their properties have been hiring contractors or independent rubble removers, who unbeknownst to them have been disposing of large amounts of their rubble in the nearby veld on Smit Street.
With the helping hand of the team of Pikitup’s Waterval Depot, residents cleaned as much of the area as they could, with the help of four container trucks and a digger truck, before moving the illegally dumped rubble to the Dobsonville landfill site on 30 October.
Weweje added, “The residents have come together to say ‘no more’, and have blocked off the area with concrete bollards. Dumpers have stopped dumping at the main spot, but this has not stopped them from dumping further up the road.”
Pikitup’s Melvin Jacobie explained the problem. “One group will dump waste in an area, and others seeing this will follow suit.”
The site is owned by the City and managed by the Johannesburg Property Company, and it is not Pikitup’s responsibility to maintain the area.
“We need community members, contractors and rubble removal companies to understand that the City has made provisions for them to easily get rid of building waste, and it does not cost a thing. Each time we come out to clean the area, it is using taxpayers’ money for something that could have been done for free,” said Jacobie.
Clean building rubble in a large amount can be disposed of free of charge at any Pikitup landfill site. Registration is required first before you dump at a landfill site with Pikitup at no cost.
Clean building rubble is rubble that is not mixed in with other waste material, including litter, carpets or asbestos ceiling boards, and other materials.
“One of the main reasons rubble needs to be separated is to stop any fire hazards,” said Jacobie.
Private security companies have been monitoring the area and illegal dumpers have been caught in the act.
“People need to be vigilant about this situation. If you know there is construction happening, be on alert and let other community members know about it so that illegal dumping can be monitored and reported.”
The team also plans to fix the fence surrounding the area that has been damaged and stolen, and temporarily block the area off with sand.
Residents, contractors and rubble removal companies are encouraged to find out how they can register for dumping at landfill sites by calling Pikitup’s Haseena Sulieman on 087 357 1239.
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