Pikitup spokesperson Muzi Mkhwanazi has assured residents affected by the foul smell and smoke from the Panorama Compost Site that they are working around the clock to deal with the matter.
“We are currently isolating the burning heaps of garden waste and covering it with water and soil to prevent it from smouldering,” he said.
Ward 89 councillor Amelia Bester provided footage of the plant, showing a front-end loader being used to remove the smouldering garden refuse.
Watch here:
Since smoke from the site started polluting the air on Tuesday morning, 29 September, the Northsider has been inundated with emails and calls from anxious residents, some saying the smoke was toxic and a health hazard.
However, Mkhwanazi assured the residents that the smoke emanated from burning garden waste and nothing else.
“The site is only used for garden refuse. We have an upgraded recycling site next to this one where toxic items such as plastic are dumped,” he explained.
Initially it was estimated that the problem would take approximately ten days to solve, but Mkhwanazi said with the help of the rain, the problem could perhaps be solved much sooner.
