Recyclers accused of breaking bylaws
MELROSE – Vagrants who make a living by recycling rubbish have been accused of breaking the bylaws.

Residents complained that the vagrants pushing trolleys full of recyclable rubbish blocked traffic on Melrose Street, Birdhaven.
They also raised concerns that the vagrants contributed towards the degradation of the environment.
Their complaints were lodged with ward councillor, Jack Cooper, who took up the matter with the MMC for environment and infrastructure services Tshidi Mfikoe.
Because of Cooper’s intervention, Pikitup have asked Joburg property company to identify a council owned place where the vagrants would store their trolleys.
Vagrants were accused of using the pavement opposite the garden site near Killarney Golf Course as a dumping and recycling plant. Mfikoe said she was aware of the behaviour. She said, “Pikitup is exploring the possibility of establishing a pilot facility for the reclaimers in the area surrounding the garden site which will allow the reclaimers to sort their recyclable waste and to store their trolleys overnight. This will allow the reclaimers to go home to their families in the evenings to sleep. This requires the cooperation and support of the surrounding communities.”
Mfikoe said Pikitup have plans in the pipeline to formalise the operation and clean up the pavement.
A resident Brett Mc Dougall expresssed anger that the state of the park near Pick n Pay Hyper in Hawkins Estate suffered degradation by recyclers.
Another resident Barbara Frankel said, “How sad that every time I drive home I am faced with the disgusting mess of our rubbish being sorted along the once beautiful and serene avenue of trees. Surely there is something that can be done about this. I believe that it is officially in the Birdhaven area – but I live in the same street and feel sure that this should not be allowed in a pretty northern suburb.That together with the safety issue of having these men hanging around for the entire week making more and more mess every day.”