Has burning at the Vryheid dumpsite been dealt with once and for all?
Uhaqane was appointed to manage the dumpsite on April 1.
The complaint: Multiple residents have complained time and again of the health and environmental consequences of the poor management of the dumpsite and the fact that waste catches fire so frequently.
Administrator’s Response:
We know that this is an issue that the community is very upset about. A company called Uhaqane was appointed the previous weekend and began work on April 1. I agreed that the municipal manager should appoint this company, because of the urgency, through a Section 36 process.
The company has been appointed to manage the dumpsite. They will be dealing with the fires, keeping the people out, checking that there is no one dumping outside the designated area and managing the waste.
ALSO READ: Environmental Affairs tackles toxic dumpsite, MM does nothing
Dumpsites have three kinds of material, recyclable material, materials that need to be dumped separately in a particular area, and materials that the scavengers might want. Smaller towns are unable to separate the materials, which can lead to fires. It can also pollute our streams or reach a point where there is such a big fire, it could engulf the dumpsite and the surrounding area in a blaze.
The person who manages the dumpsite must be able to level the waste and compact it, to prevent this from happening. This has now been dealt with.
Get regular news updates. Follow the Vryheid Herald on Facebook and Twitter.
Got news? Email estella@caxton.co.za or Whatsapp 0792567570.
