Uncollected waste sparks concern in Bluff

BLUFF residents are up in arms following issues and irregularities with uncollected waste throughout the community.

Following recent speculation of operational issues at the Durban Solid Waste (DSW) Collingwood Depot, residents took to social media with complaints and images of waste dumped outside the DSW Tara Road Garden Refuse Site as a last resort to draw attention to the problem.

According to ward 66 councillor Zoe Solomon, DSW refuse collection services have been strained due to internal staff issues, the recurring breakdown of trucks as well as the added challenge of adhering to lockdown level three restrictions.

“I have reported the unfortunate mass dumping outside the Road Garden Refuse Site after the dump closed at 2pm. The head of the Collingwood Depot has agreed to assist with this. DSW has admittedly been unreliable according to the regular schedule over the festive season due to many reasons which have been reported ad nauseam. They never stopped running though.  We have been living in crisis mode and now have to deal with a scenario like this. But it will be dealt with. No one wants to live in filth, it’s just unfortunate that the odds are against us at the moment. The staff are there and they show up to work, they just don’t have the manpower.

“I also wish to dismiss the urban legend that ‘vagrants’ have made the situation worse. The truth is that the recyclers who work at the garden site have employed some guys from the nearby informal settlement to separate and sort the waste that is dumped there,” said Solomon who has personally been out into the community to assess the extent of the problem.

DSW’s Justice Shange, who supervises the areas of Bluff and Merebank confirmed that the Collingwood Depot is operation albeit under challenging circumstances. “The depot is open throughout the week. We are unfortunately also dealing with a lot of truck breakdowns which is the main issue around working efficiently to collect refuse in our areas.”

In a response to the issue, which is ongoing throughout the metropolitan, eThekwini Municipality’s cleansing and solid waste department advised residents that the City remains committed to responding to collection and disposal of domestic refuse.

“This is a period of solidarity as well as social responsibility and it is during this time that every citizen must realise the importance of waste management. It is necessary to take the precautionary measures as difficult as it may be in order to emerge stronger as a society,” reads a statement from the municipality.

The city calls on all residents to strictly abide by the recent adjusted risk strategy for lockdown level three. Waste collection will be as per normal collection schedules. All Garden Drop off sites will strictly operate from 7am to 2pm with immediate effect until Friday, 15 January and subject to review thereafter.

“Communities are reminded to stay safe and exercise caution during the lockdown. DSW will update the residents of eThekwini on any changes as it unfolds. For any enquiries, contact the DSW customer line on 031-311-8804/311-8836.

Residents are encouraged during this time to:

• Reduce the generation of this waste stream by limiting cutting, pruning etc.
• Reuse through home scale composting
• Residents using any of the waste facilities are kindly required to comply with all Covid-19 protocols as directed by site staff. Remember no mask equals no entry.

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