Illegal dumping blitz
Apart from being an eyesore, illegal dumping leads to health and environmental hazards
THE City of uMhlathuze has vowed to put an end to the illegal dumping plague that has angered residents and turned vacant land into eyesores. After months of complaints, especially around Richards Bay, the municipality has taken heed of residents’ outcries and is prioritising the clampdown of such activity.
From the industrial parts of Alton, to residential verges in Birdswood and the greenbelts of Meerensee, the Bay has become littered with all types of refuse, from building rubble to hardware-type rubbish, discarded loaves of bread and tractor tyres.
A series of ZO articles shone a spotlight on the scourge and publicised residents’ anger at the potential health and safety issues, environmental hazards and aesthetics caused by illegal dumping.
‘The city has taken a decision to introduce a system from now on that requires the land owners/developers to produce proof in the form of a receipt from the approved dump site where rubble that is generated from construction activities will be disposed,’ said uMhlathuze spokesperson Mdu Ncalane.
‘If the rubble was used as fill material on-site, the team of building inspectors will have records of such activity from prescribed inspections, conducted on the property during the construction phases.
‘The owners/developers will not qualify to obtain Occupation Certificates once the construction is complete, unless proof in the form of a receipt from the approved dump site is provided.’
Ncalane further stated that, should these rules be contravened, the city will issue perpetrators with contravention notices and, upon obtaining evidence, will issue a Section 56 notice in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act, with a spot fine.
The R1000 fine is set to come under review owing to the drastic increase in illegal dumping.
Perpetrators will also be instructed to remove the rubble and dump it at an approved site, and to provide proof thereof.
‘Although it is known that most illegal dumping occurs at night, and the perpetrators hide their vehicle number plates to prevent detection, this initiative is regarded as a step in the right direction to reduce illegal dumping of building rubble, and will require inter-departmental co-operation,’ said Ncalane.
He said illegal dumping control programmes rely on community involvement resulting from public education, citizen participation, site maintenance and authorised enforcement measures. He further asked all councillors to work together in ensuring by-laws are upheld and enforced.
Landfill site costs:
Quartered tyres / rubber: R1812.58/tonne incl VAT General domestic waste: R141/tonne incl VAT Builders’ rubble: R141/ tonne incl VAT Green waste: R141/ tonne incl VAT The landfill site is open from 7.30am to 4pm.
