LETTER: New refuse rules are rubbish!
Resident voices her frustration and anger regarding the recent and new refuse removal guidelines issued by the municipality.
• Sophia Burke writes:
As a resident of Mogale City, I would like to complain about their recent comments and guidelines.
Firstly, we are trying to keep our pavements clean and cut because the municipality doesn’t care! We pay for a service to remove our rubble. It has been the same for years, now all of a sudden we have rules. I believe that our dustbins need to be respected. We find them all over and they are manhandled.
The dustbins are emptied when they feel like it! If we employ an outside company to remove grass, etc, then we are opening ourselves to illegal dumping. We are preventing illegal dumping by placing it in our bins. The grass is biodegradable and should be allowed in the bins! Yes as usual we are looking at the financial implications but believe it or not we are paying dearly for the service that we are trying to utilise.
Start the changes within your office and make it work just like the residents in Mogale City.
Mogale City Local Municipality (MCLM) communication officer Adrian Amod said their Waste Management Services responded as follows:
“While the municipality appreciates responsible residents’ efforts to maintain clean pavements and practice responsible waste disposal, we must clarify that municipal wheelie bins are intended strictly for general household waste. The disposal of garden waste and building rubble in these bins has previously caused damage to waste collection trucks, leading to service disruptions and costly repairs. When the lifting mechanisms are compromised, waste collection is delayed, affecting all residents.”
Below are images illustrating the types of garden waste some residents attempt to dispose of. As you will see, these materials have the potential to damage the truck machinery.
He further states the municipality has implemented these guidelines not only to regulate waste disposal but also to safeguard and preserve waste collection trucks, ensuring uninterrupted service delivery.
“For garden waste disposal, we are pleased to inform residents that the Luipaardsvlei Landfill Site is fully operational and available for this purpose as it always was before the closure late last year. We encourage residents to make use of this facility.
“We kindly urge all residents to support these efforts by adhering to the established waste disposal regulations. By doing so, together we can protect the equipment and infrastructure that enable us to provide the essential services we have committed to delivering.
“Your co-operation is essential in maintaining an effective waste management system and keeping Mogale City clean. We appreciate your understanding and support.”
*Letter updated with comment from MCLM — Ed.
