One resident, Leon van Rhyn, says he bought two wheelie bins last year when he heard that the system would be coming to Springs.
“The bins cost me R700 each and, last Wednesday, my gardener put them out at 7am, as the metro stated we must do,” he says.
When he got home that evening, at 5.45pm, he noticed that his bins were gone.
“My gardener says he didn’t see anything as he was working at the back for most of the day,” van Rhyn explains.
He adds that the following morning he saw his neighbours’ refuse bags still standing on the pavement.
“The municipality says they will not collect refuse if it is not placed in the bins, but what are we to do if the bins are placed outside and they don’t pick them up at the specified times, leading to the bins being stolen?”
He states that the big problem is that the municipality does not stick to the schedules.
“I have decided that I will not put my bags out anymore, and will take them away weekly, myself, but it is still not right, as we are forced to pay a monthly fee for getting disgusting service.
“I want to know from the metro when I can fetch my two new bins, or I will lay a charge at the police station”.
Themba Gadebe, spokesman for the The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM), says they are currently experiencing vehicle breakdowns and employee absenteeism.
“This has caused a backlog which will be addressed soon,” he states.
The shortage of staff on a daily basis is due to absenteeism, normal leave and sick leave taken by the staff.
Gadeb adds that, to avoid theft of wheelie bins, residents are advised to clearly mark their bins for identification.
“This is, however, a problem that will not be easily resolved and is also experienced in other areas where bins have been rolled out.
“A solution to the theft of bins can be resolved with the installation of a satellite tracking device, at a huge cost that will put a huge load on the monthly refuse charges,” he concludes.
Connect with us:
Have a story? Send Izahn van Huyssteen an email on izahnv@caxton.co.za or contact her on 011 812 4828.
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter as well as our journalists @SpringsJournOne and @SpringsJournTwo.
For news straight to your phone, invite us on BBM – 7EFABEF1.
