Closure of garden refuse sites remain a problem

The prolonged closure of some garden refuse sites, now spanning nearly two years, remains an issue for many garden services.

Allan Tiffin, founder of Adventure Gardens in Horison, used to rely on Panorama, Penny Road (which are both within the borders of Roodepoort) and the Fairlands dumping site close to Randburg for disposing of garden waste generated by his business.

However, the Panorama and Fairland sites have been closed for about two years now, leaving Tiffin and other garden service providers with limited options.

“Penny Road is also not fully operational. Sometimes when you go there, they tell you it’s full or the truck is broken,” he said.

This closure has forced Tiffin to resort to storing the waste at his home, leading to a buildup of rubbish that is now impacting his living space and that of his neighbours.

“I’m wondering what other businesses are doing because I’m trying to stick to the law and not dump anywhere illegal. I had more bags of refuse building up in my home, and my neighbours were complaining of the smell, and there was nothing I could do. In Fairlands, the weeds are up the gate, stating that it has been closed for a long time,” he mentioned.

Another garden service owner who asked to remain anonymous says most of them pay a skip in complexes or residential areas, and many dump illegally in open areas.

Muzi Mkhwanazi, spokesperson for Pikitup, says the Panorama Garden site is ready to be opened. However, Pikitup is still awaiting the appointment of an external service provider to provide security services to ensure operational efficiencies.

“In Fairlands, the site was closed in November 2023 after the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) issued an order to shut it down following the clearing of vegetation for its expansion. The closure was prompted by complaints from some residents regarding the site’s renovations. Pikitup appealed GDARD’s decision and is still awaiting the outcome of the appeal.

“However, I can confirm that Penny Road is fully operational between 08:00 and 17:00 until it reaches full capacity,” said Mkhwanazi.

Mkhwanazi mentioned the only time the site is closed is when the truck transports the waste to the landfill for disposal.

“It is important to note that this site is extremely busy. While it is primarily intended for domestic users, it also accommodates garden services. Additionally, some users from surrounding municipalities overwhelm the site, causing it to fill up quickly.”

Garden services are advised to use alternative sites, which include the Ballona, Disa, and Ashburton garden sites.