Help us to keep you areas clean – metro
"Local municipalities do their best to inform and educate residents about the dangers of illegal dumping and the importance of using the available waste removal services.”
Tshwane metro cleared up over 2 300 illegal dumping sites across various of its regions over the past two months.
According to Dana Wannenburg, MMC for environment and agriculture management, the metro spends “over R30-million per year to clear and clean these illegal dumping sites in Tshwane”.
He said the metro launched a campaign in November last year to clear more than 600 illegal dumping sites, which made good progress.
“The city liased with various police departments in respect to the enforcement of waste management by-laws.
“Anyone found guilty of illegal dumping is now liable to a maximum period of imprisonment of three years or a R60 000 fine, or both, as determined by a court.”
He said illegal dumping is a severe problem across South Africa and in Tshwane alone there are approximately 671 illegal dumping hotspots.
“However, it feels like we are fighting a losing battle. Local municipalities do their best to inform and educate residents about the dangers of illegal dumping and the importance of using the available waste removal services.”
He said it was disheartening for metro officials to clean up an area only to go back two days later to find dumped refuse there again.
“We have various educational projects to help people understand the financial, health and environmental impacts of the sites. Transgressors know very well what they do is illegal, but have no regard for the law.
“Especially backyard dwellers or households with many members and only one dustbin, dump waste illegally.”
He said the metro also intends on looking into how landlords dispose of waste from their properties, and find a solution for that.
“We are continuously monitoring these locations to catch the culprits, but need the help of community members in this regard.
“These are criminal activities that impacts the community negatively. These sites serve as a breeding ground for all kinds of things that can cause life-threatening diseases.”
Wannenburg urged communities to assist in reporting illegal dumping.
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“The metro also looks at the possibility to add larger skip containers near the illegal sites for the community to use. Hopefully this will prevent dumping on vacant land.”
He added that the metro also found that these skips had been vandalised, or even cut up completely to be sold as scrap metal.
“While the metro is out cleaning and clearing, we rely heavily on residents to put a stop to this practice.
“We all need to safeguard our environment for our children and the generations to follow. We are thus pleading with residents to assist the municipality by guarding against any illegal dumping practices in communities.”
He urged communities to ensure that once an area is clean, to keep it clean.
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