The Covid-19 pandemic and associated lockdown and hand sanitizing may feel like a lifetime ago when mask wearing and health concerns were all very real.
Yet despite all this, environmental health appears to not be a concern for most Endumeni residents.
This is something that irritates Cllr Naresh Gopie, a past chairman of Tourism Dundee and current MPAC chairperson.
He told the Courier that illegal dumping is a ‘detrimental practice that not only poses environmental hazards, but also reflects a behavioural pattern ingrained within the community’. “Out-of-control dumping in vacant plots, under bridges and even under trees is continuing seemingly unabated. The Colley Street bridge, near Boundary Road, is the latest illegal dumping site to have sprung up. A broken toilet, tins, papers and used condoms are all strewn around, attracting herds of goats.”
Cllr Gopie said the negative impact (of this dumping) can be categorised into three main areas:
1. Environmental impact: The indiscriminate disposal of waste pollutes the soil, water bodies and air, contaminating the ecosystem. Hazardous materials such as chemicals and electronic waste pose a significant risk to human health and wildlife. The accumulation of waste also leads to the proliferation of pests and disease vectors, further endangering public health.
2. Aesthetic damage: Illegal dumping not only creates an eyesore, but also diminishes the overall quality of life in affected areas. Dumped waste can transform once-pristine landscapes into unkempt and unsightly spaces, negatively impacting on tourism, property values and community pride.
3. Social and economic ramifications: The presence of illegal dumping sites fosters a sense of neglect and apathy within the community.
It creates an environment conducive to criminal activities, reduces community cohesion, and perpetuates a negative perception of the area. Moreover, the cost of cleaning up these dump sites falls on taxpayers’ shoulders, putting an unnecessary financial burden on the municipality.
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