Bylaws and municipal finances have put the brakes on the operating times at the Estcourt Landfill Site (dump site).
READ THIS: Widespread illegal dumping is choking streets in Estcourt
Located on the R103, the landfill site has been drawing attention from locals who are unable to dump garden and domestic refuse during the weekends.
The Estcourt News received three letters from concerned locals, all citing the inconvenience caused when the dump site is closed on weekends.
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The residents reasoned that most people have time on the weekend to clean up and remove the waste from their gardens to the dump site.
Residents also said that the landfill site closure could possibly encourage more illegal dumping in the town and residential areas. They appealed to Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality to reconsider the closure of the dump site.
After more than a month, the local municipality has finally broken its silence on this issue, after a nudge from the Estcourt News.
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On Sunday afternoon, a reporter from the Estcourt News visited the landfill site. A cautious security guard immediately contacted the municipality’s Cleansing Manager Hlanganani Hlongwane.
When the reason for the visit was explained, Mr Hlongwane indicated that he had already responded to the media’s enquiries but would resend his response on Monday morning.
Shortly before 9am on Monday morning, Mr Hlongwane’s response was received. In it, he explained that the municipal by-laws dictated the operating hours at the landfill site and thus the decision to open from 7.30am until 4pm on weekdays was taken.
“This is due to proper management of waste disposal in terms of directing all waste to the relevant cells. Our current operating hours at the landfill site are informed by the current financial position of the municipality, since overtime and shift allowances cannot be paid,” commented Mr Hlongwane.
The operating times at the dump site also allows for municipal staff, known as spotters, to be available and control the disposal of waste.
When asked whether the local municipality would reconsider opening the landfill site on weekends, Mr Hlongwane said:
“The municipality is currently reviewing this and until such time, we request co-operation from the public.”
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