I refer to your article about the burning compost site off Jim Fouche Road. I am a resident in the area and I want to mention something I feel should go on record.
We’ve had this problem of the compost site burning for the past few years. Last year various people and pets in our area got very sick as a result of this. Last year, the compost site started burning on 20 September and after a few days of terrible smelling and polluted air, a few people in our community started querying the situation. It was revealed last year that the compost site uses a specific “ingredient” in the garden refuse to make it decompose quicker, and that resulted in the dangerous gassy smell when it burns. Our question then was how bad was it for our health? After numerous complaints and like I said, people getting really sick, we still could not get an adequate answer from Pikitup.
I specifically remember even approaching the ward council last year that just brushed it off. There is currently speculation in our area that the compost site gets burned deliberately to get rid of their old material and make space for new material, seeing that it is the season that more people get rid of garden refuse there. I personally don’t know,
but all I know is that I suffer from severe sinus and asthma, and since the smoke has been hanging in our area, my symptoms are 10 times worse. I am convinced I am not the only one. Last year one of the residents up the road from us was booked off sick as a result of this gassy smell.
We should maybe ask if it is a coincidence that we have exactly the same problem every year. Clearly the community’s health is of no concern.
