Residents are once again voicing frustrations over the Kyalami garden refuse site, prompting Ward 94 councillor David Foley to raise concerns about long waiting times and the increasing pressure on the facility.

According to Foley, the site continues to face significant operational challenges as the volume of garden refuse being delivered exceeds its current capacity.

“There is a constant challenge with the lack of compactors to take the garden refuse to the landfill dump, as well as the volume of residents and businesses that want to use the facility, especially as some of the other sites in the area are closed.”

Read more: JRA delivers on State Road promise, but long-term solution still awaited

This information shocked residents, especially as Pikitup spokesperson Anthony Selepe confirmed that all the nearby garden sites were now operational in an article published by the Midrand Reporter on May 23.

Foley said he has been in regular contact with Pikitup regarding the situation and understands that local staff are doing what they can, despite limited resources.

“I have engaged extensively with Pikitup. The site supervisor is hamstrung by the availability of compactors needed to remove the constant flow of garden refuse being offloaded. The regional manager and depot manager are fully aware of the situation.”

The ongoing challenges have had a direct impact on residents who rely on the facility for disposing of garden waste.

“Residents are impacted severely, as the refuse site gates are closed while they wait outside, or the site is closed for the day when they have planned a major clean-up. It wastes a lot of residents’ time.”

Also read: Long-awaited K101 road officially opens for motorists

Although frustrated by the recurring strain on the facility, Foley believes the staff working at the site are making every effort to manage the increasing demand.

“The Pikitup team has been trying their best under the current constraints to maintain the area, but they would like to do more if the suitable resources were available.”

To improve the situation, Foley believes immediate interventions are needed, including reopening other nearby garden refuse sites and increasing the availability of equipment.

Looking beyond the immediate challenges, Foley added that the city should also consider expanding the Kyalami garden refuse site to meet increasing demand from residents and businesses.

The Midrand Reporter contacted Pikitup spokesperson Muzi Mkhwanazi, regarding these concerns on July 28, and followed up on July 29.

Mkhwanazi acknowledged receipt of the enquiry and added that he is awaiting feedback from operations.

An update will be published with his response once made available.

Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates!