Bridge closure leads to rapid spike in illegal dumping

SINCE the closure of the Lovu steel bridge, negating access to the Lovu landfill site, many residents have been left without a place to dispose of their refuse which has resulted in a proliferation of illegal dumping.

The closure of the bridge as well as the confusion about what waste is accepted at the council’s Nyati Road garden refuse dump site has resulted in litter being strewn along the areas surrounding the site.

“We have received many complaints about staff at the Nyati garden refuse site refusing anything other than garden refuse and rubble,” said Cllr Andre Beetge. “The same recently applied to Umbogintwini Primary School who have been using the site for many years.”

The steel bridge, which is the shortest route to the Lovu landfill site, has been closed off. This eliminates yet another dumpsite which many people previously made use of.

“The strewn litter is not from the Nyati Road site, but the result of illegal dumping next to and in the road leading from the site,” explained the councillor. “People are now merely discarding their refuse next to the road. They need to be supplied with an alternate dump site.”

Durban Solid Waste’s (DSW) Ryan Papanicolaou clarified the confusion.

“The Nyati Road landfill has only ever accepted recyclables, rubble, garden refuse and items from garage clean-outs. The Seadoone dumpsite will accept pretty much the same. However, if you are a licensed contractor, you’re able to fully utilise the site and dispose of all your waste,” he said.

“The only change at the Nyati site in January 2015 was the stopping of contractors from utilising the site. Residents have always been able to use it. The school would have been stopped as of January 2015 due it being a business and not a residential ratepayer.”

While unfortunate, Ryan clarifies that the use of the steel bridge does not fall under DSW’s control. However, there is an alternative route along the N2 to reach the Lovu landfill.

DSW provides Lovu landfill site for those contractors who have other waste streams requiring disposal as the alternative, as the two local sites accept only certain types of refuse.

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