Residents in Moreleta Park, Garsfontein and Mooikloof frequently complain about illegal dumping, waste burning and air pollution coming from neighbouring informal settlements.

However, dwellers blame the City of Tshwane’s erratic waste collection for the pollution and dumping, while informal settlement leaders criticised waste management in both communities. They acknowledged that burning waste and dumping illegally are health and safety hazards, but claimed they are their only option because municipal collection is inconsistent.

Plastic View and Cemetery View informal settlement leader Banele Tsuku highlighted erratic refuse collection as the main reason waste piles up and is burned. Tsuku alleged that although residents receive refuse bags from the city, the municipality rarely collects the filled bags.

“This results in rubbish accumulating throughout the settlements, encourages illegal dumping, and leaves residents with little option but to burn waste, contributing to smoke pollution affecting both the settlements and neighbouring communities,” Tsuku said.

Tsuku added that if municipal waste management were effective and rubbish was collected on time, waste would not pile up or be burned.

“As much as surrounding people complain about the effects of waste from the settlements, we are also living in an unsafe environment,” he said. “The waste accumulated is also a danger to us, and our children play in the waste, which makes them sick as well.”

The community leader said the informal settlement residents are willing to work with the city to resolve the issue, noting that playing the blame game will not help and everyone needs to step up and work together.

He called for greater community education on the dangers of illegal dumping, along with awareness campaigns and initiatives.

“If residents can get educated on the environmental effects of dumping and encouraged to start community vegetable gardens and other environmental projects, I believe it would help reduce pollution and discourage illegal dumping,” Tsuku explained. He added that such initiatives would encourage residents to stop individuals from dumping illegally within the settlements.

City of Tshwane responds to refuse collection criticisms

City of Tshwane spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said Plastic View and Cemetery View are listed informal settlements within the municipality and receive refuse collection every Friday. The city also conducts monthly cleansing operations to remove illegally dumped waste.

“The bags are collected weekly, following the approved refuse collection schedule,” Mashigo said.

Mashigo said the city has placed bulk skip bins at the settlement entrances to manage additional waste.

“However, the skips are generally misused, and often, the waste is thrown on the ground. The waste is later cleared as illegal dumping when conducting monthly cleansing,” Mashigo explained.

He said the city encourages community-initiated clean-ups and offers support where requested.

“Through the city’s Informal Settlement Waste Management Strategy, the city encourages communities to consider waste minimisation and other alternative waste handling and greening methods,” Mashigo said. He noted that the city currently supports eight informal settlements and intends to expand the project to others.

Mashigo urged the community to use city services properly by storing waste in provided bags and placing them out on Fridays as scheduled.

“This includes proper utilisation of the bulk containers to maintain a clean environment,” he added. “The settlements are encouraged to take advantage of the Informal Settlement Waste Management Strategy to minimise waste generation, convert dump sites into gardens and parks, participate in composting, and improve recycling and upscaling of waste products.”

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