After purchasing 12 new waste removal trucks, the City of Ekurhuleni believes it is ready to address waste removal services bottlenecks across the region.
ALSO READ: Ekurhuleni hit by waste removal backlog again
Following the purchase, four vehicles were released to CoE on the morning of June 20.
The remaining eight will be delivered in July.
The increase in the city’s refuse removal fleet comes after last year’s waste removal crisis where residents in Edenvale and Germiston went several weeks without having refuse collected.
Many in desperation approached the media for assistance.
Earlier this year, Zweli Dlamini, CoE spokesperson, said the problem was noticed in the latter part of 2022 after the city received numerous complaints about the lack of waste removal services.
ALSO READ: City adds trucks to its fleet to resolve waste removal backlog
Dlamini said an investigation revealed the causes of the problems were a questionable management style, an ageing fleet and in some instances, service providers being paid late.
Dlamini said presently the city budgeted R40-million towards the replenishment of its waste fleet
The new vehicles will include 10 rear-end loaders and two front-end loaders.
MMC for Environment Resources and Waste Management Services Eunice Matloga said CoE is on course to normalise waste removal services.
ALSO READ: CoE resolves waste removal backlog
“We purchased these vehicles to address the backlog of waste removal in the city and to strengthen our internal resources so as to reduce reliance on service providers,” she said.
