The insufficient rain in Roodepoort has prompted Pikitup to apply more resources to deal with the smouldering Panorama Compost Site in Allen’s Nek.
Ward 126 councillor David Brand indicated that Pikitup dispatched additional water tankers to the site to dampen down the smouldering garden waste and spread out the material to speed up the process.
Ward 89 councillor Amelia Bester, who shared footage of the work in progress, said she was informed that a 15 000L water tanker was already on-site and that a second had been dispatched.
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.
Pikitup spokesperson Muzi Mkhwanazi, who said they were working around the clock to deal with the matter, explained that the smoke was not toxic but just garden waste fumes. The upgraded Panorama Garden Site next to the Compost site is the only plant allowing toxic items such as plastic to be dumped, he said.
This is a developing story.
