AN awful stench, flies and rats are becoming unbearable for the residents of Clairwood as heaps of uncollected of rubbish rise by the day.
According to ward 32 PR councilor, Sharmaine Sewshanker the mounds of waste found on several residential streets in the area, are due to the closure of the Durban Solid Waste (DSW) Collingwood Depot which services Clairwood. The depot which is situated on the Bluff, officially closed on 15 May due to multiple positive Covid-19 cases among staff.
“Garbage has been sitting out on the side of the roads for almost two weeks because the depot is closed. All the people have now resorted to dumping their waste illegally on street corners and at an old dilapidated building on Houghton Road. This has become a regular thing now. We have seen rats coming out of here and there is flies breeding, which are going into the house and flats nearby. It has become a health and hygiene hazard now. With Covid-19 we are supposed to be fighting a pandemic but we have filth in our faces all the time. How are we supposed to keep clean under these circumstances? Clairwood is normally neglected in terms of service delivery but this time it is absolutely bad,” she said.
Sewshanker, who has been inundated with calls regarding the matter, urges residents to also take ownership and responsibility in looking after their environment. “I understand that lack of service delivery is an issue but illegal dumping and putting out your waste is making the situation worse. We all need to have a bit of patience. DSW is experiencing a major backlog at the moment. Waste collection schedules will be arranged and communicated with the public soon.”
All DSW garden refuse sites are closed according to official communication from the city. For refuse removal enquiries, residents can contact the DSW Helpline on 031-311-8804.
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