Illegal dumping rife in Umtentweni
Volunteers said community support was essential if Umtentweni is to remain a clean, attractive coastal suburb that residents could be proud of.
Illegal dumping and littering continues to scar parts of Umtentweni despite the tireless efforts of volunteers working weekly to keep the suburb clean and presentable.
Members of Tweni Tidy Towns are appealing to residents to play their part in protecting the area by disposing of waste responsibly and taking pride in their surroundings.
Every week, volunteers clean bins placed along roadsides and collect litter from the sidewalks and at the beach, removing an estimated 120 bags of rubbish from the area.
“We are custodians of this land, and we should be aiming to hand it over to the next generation in a clean way,” said a concerned resident, Brian Goddard .
Residents are urged to ensure refuse is placed out only on collection days and to take garden cuttings to the Louisiana Transfer Station instead of dumping them illegally.
The volunteers also encouraged homeowners to maintain verges and keep the entrances to their properties neat.
On Monday afternoon this week, the Herald joined Goddard and Arthur Edwards of Tweni Tidy Towns during an inspection of several dumping hotspots around the suburb.
At the end of Ambleside Road, large heaps of garden refuse, cardboard boxes, and glass bottles had recently been dumped at the cul-de-sac.
Tweni Tidy Towns have been working hard to transform Ambleside Road into a well-kept grassed strip with newly planted indigenous trees and shrubs, but the ongoing dumping is disheartening.
A stopover under the Mzimkulu River bridge revealed that a longstanding pile of rubbish had finally been cleared, although further clean-up work was still needed to improve the area.
The next day, Tweni Tidy Towns volunteers Bongani Hlope and Ayanda Mchunu spent hours raking through bushes and removing litter from the site, collecting 54 bags of rubbish.
Other dumping hotspots identified include the end of New Bolton Road near the cell tower, the bottom of Rethman Drive before the N2, Batstone Drift Road towards Port Shepstone, and the old road between the toll plaza and Sea Park.
On a happier note, Edwards has helped achieve Brett Robins and Goddard’s vision of a cycling track for the younger generation and a safe walking track for everyone else along Commercial Road. Go check it out!
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