Concerned residents of Reiger Park have raised concerns over the area turning into landfills.
The Advertiser visited the area on February 15. The publication found several enormous illegal dumping spots on road verges, pavements and other locations piled high with household and building waste.
Among these is the dumpsite outside Goedehoop Primary School in Abraham Foster Street, where people befoul the road verge with all sorts of trash, including food containers, clothing, rubble, pieces of furniture, plastic and much more.
The piles of waste are now encroaching on the school’s premises, posing a health hazard to both children and staff.
When approached for comment, the school’s management pointed out that waste management workers regularly show up to clean the area, but despite the regular clean-ups, people continue to dump their waste on the school pavement.
It is thought the culprits are from the nearby residential properties.
Shocking pictures posted by concerned residents on the community’s Facebook page (Reiger Park Community News) have also revealed locations of illegal dumpsites where piles upon piles of waste are seen filling the entire areas on the sides of the roads.
The ward councillor for the area, Charlie Crawford, admitted illegal dumping continues to be a public nuisance in the area.
He said apart from costing a lot to council and taxpayers, it poses serious health and safety risks to humans and animals and causes damage to the environment.
Crawford stated that municipal workers clean the affected areas. Sadly, for some people littering seems harmless, as the problem persists and grows worse by the day, turning the township into a smelly landfill site.
“Initiatives and campaigns aimed at stopping this dangerous practice were introduced.
“But this needs to be coupled with strong environmental laws and steady by-law enforcement by the relevant EMPD departments.
“Tougher penalties are needed to curb the surge, and that is why I’m trying to set up an appointment to meet with the EMPD and the Department of Environmental Resources and Waste Management, to discuss new ways of dealing with offenders,” said Crawford.
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