Metro spokesman Sam Modiba recently commented that meters without covers are filled with refuse due to the lack of sufficient bins to serve the needs of the growing population in the CBD.
But, according to a local businessman Bob Gillies, there are actually hundreds of these bins lying in Ekurhuleni’s storage yard in Bedfordview, with the grass and weeds growing around them.
“I photographed these in February and forwarded them to the relevant Ekurhuleni managers in Springs. Does Modiba not get informed?
“There are plenty bins available – as it seems no one else wants them,” says Bob.
This picture was sent to Customer Care Centre manager Sakie Kekana at the time and Bob recently managed to get four bins from waste management after asking for them in mid May.
Bob says a company installed the bins at the children’s park between Pan and Evan streets in Casseldale.
“Most of the pavements in the CBD are paved and accommodate underground services, which creates a problem for planting the swivel bins due to the possible damage to underground services as well as the paving.
“This is why pole mounted bins and concrete bins are mostly used in the Springs area,” says Modiba.
There are probably over 1000 refuse bins in the yard in Bedfordview, but the swivel bins mentioned, need to be planted into the ground with concrete.
He adds it needs to be mentioned that the availability of street litter bins would not eliminate littering.
“Littering is deemed to as a result of a lack of respect for your environment, which can be tackled through education,” says Sam.
“It is unfortunate however, that it has also been found that even where there are bins provided, pedestrians still throw their litter on the ground.”
But, according to Bob, the contractor was obviously well paid for supplying them and the correct person rewarded for issuing the contract. Now the public’s money lies spent, rotting in the weeds!
