THE informal recycling depot that has operated for years on Riverside Road without formal recognition is close to becoming an official recycling site.

The site, which has been plagued by uncontrolled dumping, sex workers plying their trade, and squatting, is on the brink of transformation into a structured buy back centre operating as a small business.

Also read: Greenwood Park youth celebrate leadership, diversity

According to Ward 36 councillor, Heinz de Boer, this comes after a collaboration between USE-IT, the eThekwini Municipality Economic Development Unit, Cleansing and Solid Waste (CSW) and the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA). All that is outstanding is the go-ahead from EDTEA.

“Once we have the fencing up and formalise the place, we can control it. The fence is being erected currently. It will become a formalised business for the people who are already sorting through the items which are left here for recycling. The positive is that voluntary clean-ups by these individuals are underway which is a good step towards compliance,” he said.

“I must commend the economic development department for the crucial role they are playing in getting this project off the ground. We need everyone to stop dumping items other than what can be recycled. We must eliminate sex workers and drug use on site. People are very receptive to clean up and to education around dumping,” he added.

Belinda Putterill, managing director of USE-IT, an environmental NPO, said once the green light is given by EDTEA, further steps will be taken to formalise the depot. The non-profit company has secured over R700 000 from the Waste Association of South Africa (eWASA) to fund infrastructure development.

“Due to the close proximity of the area to the river, we’ve had to ask for permission to operate. Once that’s been granted, it will be all systems go,” she said.

“There are many success stories that speak volumes about how waste pickers improved their lives through recycling. Residents have a recycling depot where they can drop items off, waste pickers earn an income and our environment gets cared for. We’ve are working with City engineers, social crime watch structures, and Mondli Mbonambi, our project manager, who visits weekly,” she said.

For more from Northglen News, follow us on Facebook , X or  Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.

Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here