Delays in clearing and processing garden refuse at the Rooihuiskraal Garden Refuse Site have once again resulted in waste accumulating on-site, leaving surrounding communities to deal with unpleasant smells and visible build-up.

The situation has raised concerns about service efficiency and the long-term management of this busy facility.

Ward 69 councillor Cindy Billson first alerted residents on February 12 that the site was overflowing, stating that she had received numerous complaints about the overpowering smell.

During a follow-up visit on February 19, she discovered that the mulcher machine used to process garden refuse was not operational due to a broken conveyor belt, which contributed to the growing accumulation.

“Although some progress has been made since my previous visit, it is still not enough to resolve the problem,” she said.

Providing an update to Rekord on February 23, Billson noted that there had been some improvement over the past three weeks, but the non-functioning mulcher machine remained a significant challenge.

“Workers at the site indicated that delays in removing the waste were linked to the contractor, who had allegedly not yet been paid by the city, effectively halting waste removal.”

She added that she had not received formal confirmation regarding the contractor issue and that updates from city officials had been slow.

Billson described the situation as frustrating for both herself and residents, adding that the problem has persisted for four years and appears to be linked to seasonal budget constraints and poor planning at the busy garden site.

Ward 64 councillor Alta de Kock also weighed in, saying that she had received a complaint from a resident alleging that some workers accept bribes to allow the dumping of oversized items, including household goods, which are not permitted at the facility.

She explained that this creates operational challenges and reflects poorly on the surrounding community.

De Kock further noted that some residents have reportedly been turned away despite being allowed to use the site, adding to frustrations.

“We also have an issue with the illegal dumping of wood at street corners in the ward, including the intersections of Rooihuiskraal and Uitsig roads, as well as Rooihuiskraal and Panorama roads,” she added.

In response to these reports, metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the municipality is aware of the temporary operational challenges and is working to stabilise conditions at the site.

“The city is experiencing operational constraints that have affected processing at the site. However, customers continue to have access to the facility. Corrective processes are underway to normalise operations and address the backlog,” said Mashigo.

He confirmed that the current service disruption is not due to non-payment to contractors and that the backlog is being addressed through operational adjustments.

This includes the rotation and deployment of resources from other facilities to accelerate backlog removal and improve on-site conditions.

“With the current interventions in place, the backlog is expected to be cleared progressively as operations stabilise,” he added.

Mashigo also highlighted that no formal complaints related to odour, burning of waste, or health risks have been received by the city. He assured that monitoring and compliance measures are in place to ensure the site operates within environmental authorisation and permit conditions.

Reflecting on similar disruptions in March 2025, when delays in finalising a fleet tender caused temporary operational challenges that were resolved after the 2023/24 contract took effect, Mashigo said long-term interventions are being explored to prevent recurring service failures.

These include initiatives to divert green waste from conventional disposal toward shredding and compost production across city facilities.

“To reduce pressure on garden waste facilities and support circular-economy objectives, the city is partnering with role players to divert green waste from conventional burial disposal to alternative uses such as shredding and compost production. These initiatives are being explored across city waste sites,” he said.

“The city strives to maintain uninterrupted operations across all waste facilities. Where contractor disruptions occur, internal contingency mechanisms are available to sustain service continuity,” added Mashigo.

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