Repairs of infrastructure damage at the Menlo Park garden refuse site are underway, following heavy rains.

The site was briefly closed last week, which caused confusion among residents.

Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo confirmed that the facility on 26th Street experienced a temporary operational interruption on February 9.

Mashigo said the site was temporarily closed between 07:00 and 12:00.

“The short suspension of access was necessary to address on-site operational conditions and ensure safe and orderly functioning. The facility reopened to the public from 12:00 on the same day.”

Mashigo said limited access was implemented during the morning to allow on-site interventions to be completed safely and efficiently, stressing that the interruption was not related to contractor payment matters.

He added that a short-term accumulation of garden refuse had occurred due to elevated seasonal volumes of green waste, but this had since been cleared and normal removal cycles restored.

Mashigo confirmed that the infrastructure at the site was damaged during heavy rainfall late last year.

“The damage was reported on December 27, 2025. Internal processes are underway to implement the necessary repairs in accordance with municipal procedures.”

Mashigo said all waste facilities are subject to routine monitoring and risk assessments during adverse weather conditions, with operational adjustments made where required to maintain safe access.

During the temporary interruption on February 9, users were directed to the Hatherley Waste Facility in Mamelodi as an alternative drop-off point.

“As part of standard operating practice, when temporary access constraints occur at a garden refuse site, users are directed to the nearest suitable alternative facility.

“Hatherley Waste Facility is designed and permitted to receive diverted volumes from Menlo Park when required,” Mashigo said.

He acknowledged that clearer communication would have helped avoid confusion.

“While it did not constitute a formal site closure, the city acknowledges that proactive communication would have assisted in preventing confusion.

Measures will be strengthened to ensure that ward councillors and affected stakeholders are promptly informed of similar temporary operational interruptions in the future,” he said.

While the site has since reopened and is fully operational, some residents say the abrupt restriction of access once again highlighted ongoing frustrations.

Resident and business owner Danie Dreyer, who lives and works opposite the site on 21st Street, said there was no prior communication to surrounding residents.

“No one notified us about the closure. I only found out about that on the councillor’s group,” Dreyer said.

He described recurring challenges at the facility, particularly when volumes increase.

“That refuge has been a very big problem for a long time. Garden rubble heaps up there in huge heaps, and it smells. Especially when it rains, it smells,” he said.

Ward 82 councillor Siobhan Muller confirmed that the site has reopened and that equipment was deployed to address the backlog.

Do you have more information about the story?

Please send us an email to bennittb@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 or TikTok or WhatsApp Channel