Illegal recycling plants spreading throughout Northside

Illegal recycling plants are a growing problem within the Northside area. Not only are these operations run mostly from the many open spaces throughout residential areas, but they also contribute to other problems like pollution, crime, and vagrancy.

Although it is mostly petty crimes that are associated with illegal recycling within residential areas, there are also some cases of burglary, street robberies, and even home invasions that stem from this ‘industry’.

According to Beagle Watch’s area manager, Cobus Botes, during a recent visit to one of these sites, security officers accompanied by JMPD members found numerous items that aroused suspicion, including a set of expensive golf clubs.

• Also read: Illegal recycling plants exposed in Weltevreden Park

“While we cannot prove that these items were stolen, one has to look at the common trends to ascertain the probability of someone discarding a set of clubs in the trash,” he says. “The trend would be for a person to rather sell unwanted golf clubs, either to a friend or relative or via a social media marketplace.”

One of the main problems that security companies, residents’ associations, neighbourhood watches, and community policing forums face when dealing with illegal recycling plants and vagrants, is that they have no real legal power to do anything about the situation.

“People find an open space where their activities are relatively hidden from view and start storing and sorting their wares there,” says Botes.

“There is a lot of competition among the recyclers, and to protect his wares, the person erects a shanty and stays right there. Before you know it, 10 or 20 more have moved in and it just keeps growing from there.”

Since the Roodepoort Northsider exposed a large illegal recycling plant hidden in plain view along the N1 North just after 14th Avenue, this issue has enjoyed renewed interest, from not only national media houses but also from authorities.

“We have received inquiries from several agencies, including JMPD and the police who are now coming to the party to help local communities deal with this phenomenon,” says Botes. “A lot of work still needs to be done to effectively combat illegal recycling and vagrancy, but at least there are now steps taken in the right direction.

“Residents need to know that this is happening under their noses and within their communities.”