Garden refuse site causing a stink in Rooihuiskraal
“Initially the site could easily handle the load, but as the residential population grew, it became more apparent that special measures are required."
Rooihuiskraal residents are fed up with the smell blowing in from the garden refuse transfer station in Rooihuiskraal Road.
The refuse yard is mismanaged, overloaded and not able to cope with the volumes of refuse that need to be processed, say residents, who want the city to do something about the bad smell it causes.
An image posted on Facebook shows large volumes of refuse filling the facility that processes garden refuse brought in from the surrounding community.
Letitia Steyn commented: “I lived near there a few years ago. And it’s certainly not a problem that has just come up.
“It sometimes stinks so badly that the smell hangs in one’s house and one is almost too nauseous to eat (especially in the summer on very hot days). And then one cannot dare to open windows.”
JJ Van Rensburg, the manager at nearby Wierda Glen Estate, said that the smell at his estate has been a big problem to residents.
“The smell inside the estate (which is next to the dump site) has become a real problem, especially some nights when the wind blows the smell towards our estate.”
He said that residents were forced to keep their windows closed to keep the smell out. “They would rather endure the heat than the smell.”
One resident who acknowledges the problem believes the site is necessary as it provides a valuable service to the community.
JC Marais said: “Should it be closed, the problem will be exaggerated – we will have to drive to another dump site, probably further away and with bad or dangerous access routes.
“There is no alternative nearby,” he said.
Marais said that he has lived in the area for the past 25 years, but that the situation has become worse over time.
“Initially the site could easily handle the load, but as the residential population grew, it became more apparent that special measures are required.
“Forcing residents to use another site will merely move the problem to another area.”
Marais pointed to maintenance and operational issues as the cause saying that the management of the waste should be done with care such as not allowing waste to accumulate.
Local ward councillor Cindy Billson said she has been attending to the residents’ complaints for some time, addressing many complaints more than a year ago, but that the problem has become worse.
“The site is necessary, but it not well managed.
“Some things were done last year and for the past about 14 months, the situation has been okay. But now, the place has become quite a dump.”
The office of the City Manager told Rekord that it would consult with the relevant departments for feedback about the matter.
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
