Tshwane explore options with private sector to develop waste multipurpose facilities
Waste pickers and trolley pushers have become a source of great frustration and concern for residents due to their tendency for illegal dumping and disruption of traffic.
The Tshwane metro has embarked on collaborating with the private sector to assist in developing waste multipurpose facilities.
The metro believes if waste picking is regulated and well-organised, it will lead to the decline in illegal dumping and land pollution.
Waste pickers and trolley pushers have become a source of great frustration and concern for residents due to their tendency for illegal dumping and disrupting traffic.
Residents of Pretoria east are calling for an urgent intervention as waste pickers allegedly lead to the unsightly and potentially hazardous proliferation of informal waste sorting sites throughout the city.
Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said waste picking and sorting in the city are regulated through the Waste Management By-law which is currently under review.
Mashigo said the main purpose of these facilities is to ensure that the waste sorting activities undertaken by the waste pickers are done in a co-ordinated and environmentally friendly manner.
He said the city’s regional waste management operations have a monthly schedule in which resources are deployed for the clearing of illegal dumping.
“Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) is also engaged to ensure enforcement of the waste by-law to discourage illegal sorting activities.”
Residents have complained about the trolleys disrupting traffic on Garsfontein Road and De Villebois Mareuil Drive, especially on refuse removal days.
Mashigo said the Environmental and Agriculture Management Department has collaborated with the TMPD to ensure enforcement of the waste by-law across the city.
“The department in collaboration with the TMPD will assist with enforcing the Road Safety Management Act regulations to discourage the disruptions caused by waste pickers’ trolleys.”
Mashigo said the city is in “the process of reviewing our waste management by-law”.
“The new waste by-law aims to make provisions for measures to discourage waste sorting or recycling activities in unauthorised areas. Additionally, the TMPD has established a by-law enforcement unit to ensure enforcement and compliance with the by-law in the city.”
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