The Kempton Express has been inundated with phone calls and letters from residents requesting updates on the lack of refuse removal in Kempton Park.
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Numerous requests for comment from the City of Ekurhuleni have gone unanswered as the collection of refuse stood on the brink of complete collapse last week.
Among the questions asked by residents was whether the City of Ekurhuleni’s waste collectors refused to collect bins which contained garden waste clippings.
Last week residents also highlighted the vast amounts of illegal dumping taking place outside the Highveld Transfer Station.
Eugene Faber said Commissioner Road near Sir Pierre Van Ryneveld High School looked like a dump.
“The open piece of ground opposite the same school looks and smells like a refuse dump and the rats coming from the said dump into the school are too numerous to count,” he said.
“When is this issue of non-garbage removal going to be sorted out in Kempton Park? We are paying for these services,” added Faber.
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“Residents of Kempton Park are lucky if our refuse is taken away twice a month and then they only empty the wheelie bins. The excess bags that do not fit in the bins are left behind.
“The dump in Highveld Road is closed most of the time so we cannot even take our excess bags there,” he said.
Faber called this situation a disgrace.
“We, as residents of Kempton Park are sick and tired of living in a dump, while all we get from the councillor are excuses,” he said.
Last week, Ekurhuleni Executive Mayor Tania Campbell and the MMC for Waste Management Brandon Pretorius visited various mini waste dump sites in Kempton Park and Boksburg.
“The purpose of these visits was to monitor operations at the waste disposal stations to ensure that backlogs are all cleared.”
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The waste disposal sites visited included the Norkem Park site.
“Teams have been working around the clock to ensure that the waste transfer and disposal system runs efficiently to avoid illegal dumping on the streets of Ekurhuleni.
“I am pleased with the progress made to clear some of the dumping sites that were in a disorderly state.
“I want to assure the residents of Ekurhuleni that we are working tirelessly to keep our city clean,” said Campbell.
Pretorius has said he will revisit the sites to ensure smooth waste management operation and that the city does not find ourselves in this same situation again.
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“We are clearing all the waste disposal backlogs to return the municipal’s waste management system to normality,” said Pretorius.
He added that the Solid Waste Department in the city will embark on a waste collection and cleaning blitz to normalise regular, scheduled collection throughout Ekurhuleni.
“Through the approval of a plant hire tender, the city has taken delivery of 36 vehicles which brings our fleet up to full capacity.
“Our fleet will be working around the clock to ensure that all backlogs are cleared, and as of March 6, routine collection can commence unabated,” he said.
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The Express sent further enquiries to the city last week and requested comment on March 6.
At the time of going to print, no comment was received.
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