Huge progress made at Rooihuiskraal garden refuse site

The Rooihuiskraal garden refuse site in Aleppo Crest Street, Centurion, is being cleared by the metro after complaints.

According to Cindy Billson, DA councillor of ward 69, complaints were received from residents about the “eyesore” in the neighbourhood as the dump was overflowing and accompanied by “an awful rotten smell”.

“The gate and palisades were also damaged and residents do not dump garden refuse only. There were even requests to close the site down completely.”

Billson said the site was being run according to health regulations and spatial development requirements as related to areas where people may deposit garden refuse.

“I escalated the complaints to the metro’s waste management department. It was my understanding that the site has been in the area for the last 20 years if not longer, in which time the density of the surrounding area has grown.

“At this stage, the site will not be closed soon.”

Oversight meetings at the site by the metro followed in December, of which the latest was held on Friday morning.

“On December 15, the dump had already reached full capacity. The disposal facilities director, Alice Mphahlele, from the city’s waste management department, immediately made arrangements to come to the rescue,” Billson said.

“The number of trucks was increased from two to five daily, especially with the holiday season in mind that was still ahead of us, then,” Billson said.

This amount was later increased to seven; that is 14 cubic trucks, that removed 15 to 17 loads of rubbish daily, she said.

“I want to congratulate Alice and her team. Despite many people being away on holiday and the heavy rainfall, it was the first December in a very long time that no rubbish was dumped in our streets outside an overflowing site.”

The metro raised the issue that the site is meant for garden refuse only, but despite that, residents ignore by-laws and also dump domestic waste there.

Billson said unfortunately incidents occur where staff members on-site are intimidated by local residents when they throw their domestic waste away.

“Residents have reportedly said that they are paying tax and will therefore dump whatever they like.

“We are aware of incidents where some residents have filmed the staff members and posted it on WhatsApp groups, slandering them.”

According to Billson, people as far as Midrand have been found dumping waste at the site as well.

“We have also learned that there is a tendency that those people that want to get rid of domestic waste, usually come here after dark. That is how the gate and palisades get damaged.”

Part of a solution would be to erect information boards, which a sponsor had been found for, and spread informative pamphlets, Billson said.

Of great concern to the city officials, was the damage that domestic waste can cause its shredders on-site, without which the municipality’s work is considerably more difficult and costly.

“In respect of large tree trunks that residents dump, the city requests that it be cut up in smaller logs,” Billson said.

Mphaphele, who was present at Friday’s meeting, said the city tries to assist the residents. She urged the community to come on board and not dump domestic waste there.

Billson said another meeting was scheduled this week with a member of the mayoral committee when it will be discussed that the Tshwane Metro Police Department be approached to arrange spot checks at the site.

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