Newcastle’s ‘dirty’ image as illegal dumping and littering persists
The municipality's response to the problem comes as residents from most suburbs complain of persistent dumping in their areas.
Illegal dumping and littering continue to be a blight on Newcastle’s reputation but the municipality claims a partnership plan is in place to eventually eradicate the scourge.
In response to queries, Mthandeni Myende, acting director: municipal communications and customer relations, the municipality is aware of the illegal dumping taking place in town.
He called on ‘whistle-blowers’ to report those who dump and litter
as the cost of dumping returns to ratepayers in the form of tariffs to perform the clean-up service.
“The equipment used for illegal dumping is currently not operational,” Myende said. “The municipality is looking at partnering up with local businesses, especially in the Riverside industrial area to collaboratively conduct clean-up campaigns to eradicate the severe illegal dumping in the area.”
He was confident that ‘the entire city would eventually be cleaned’, with all areas being prioritised as soon as their equipment was fully functional.
The municipality’s response to the problem comes as residents from most suburbs complain of persistent dumping in their areas.
What acts and conditions are considered illegal dumping?
- Illegal dumping of household refuse in public spaces, rivers, parks, and open fields.
- When refuse bags are left outside homes are torn open and the litter is scattered across the area.
- When road sweepings directly swept into storm water drains.
- Public urinating and excreting also contribute to air and soil pollution.
- Effluent or sewer is discharged or dumped from factory buildings and households into rivers.
- Car wash facilities discharging chemical wastewater into stormwater drew into the Ncandu River.
- The disposing of items such as cigarette butts and papers out of vehicle windows and in public places.
- Disposing of used cooking oil via sewer lines and stormwater drains.
- Dumping of ‘night soil’ (sewage water) into rivers.
- Dumping of animal tissue waste in public spaces.
- Illegal dumping of toxic gases and odours by factories.
A resident and environment specialist, wishing to remain anonymous, doesn’t believe the municipality sees the illegal dumping issue as important.
“I don’t believe the municipality has any regard for the wellbeing of the environment, and this is due to the insufficient, ineffective service delivery in identifying pollution sources that contribute to Newcastle being a very polluted and decaying city,” he claimed,
“We have gone from being the cleanest city to the dirtiest and unhealthiest.”
He added that no amount of requesting residents to report illegal dumping is valid if residents don’t understand the full context of what is considered to be illegal dumping, and especially not if the municipality themselves are a part of the problem.
As an example of this, he pointed out the municipal landfill site, which had long reached its full capacity, and the delay in successfully identifying a new landfill site.
“The municipality is continuously advocating their commitment to ensuring Newcastle remains a ‘clean’ town by conducting clean-up campaigns and ‘priding’ itself on service delivery, but whether these ‘campaigns’ are sustainable is doubtful. On one hand, there is a commitment to uphold cleanliness but on the other hand, they contradict their own statements with their own illegal dumping.”
He continued: “Efforts in keeping the town clean and safe are totally lacking and are regarded as a disgrace in protecting the environment. Illegal dumping urgently needs to be re-evaluated and addressed in all facets of the term illegal dumping,” he concluded.
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