The Nelson Mandela Bay is intensifying its campaign of clearing of all illegal dumping in the community. The serious challenge of illegal dumping in New Brighton and Bethelsdorp is a health hazard for the residents of the areas, specifically children.
In New Brighton alone, the Metro’s Waste Management Sub-directorate clears about 13 illegal dumping sites, loading more than 500 truckloads of waste every month. In Bethelsdorp, the Metro cleared 139 illegal dumping areas in the last financial year, with 60 illegal dumping sites in the current financial year, loading more than 1 000 loads of waste.
Mayoral Committee Member for Public Health, Councillor Thsonono Buyeye, made a plea to the community of these two areas to help mitigate against this hazard, by taking ownership of the environment in which they live.
“It’s a matter of time before illegal dumping causes an outbreak of diseases in these areas.
We are focusing on these areas in particular, since we have noticed that whenever we clean an illegal dumping site, new waste is dumped the next day. This talks to both a lack of awareness about the hazards of this problem and the consequences for the environment,” said Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Public Health, Councillor Thsonono Buyeye.
Councillor Buyeye addressed members of the public during an illegal dumping awareness drive, held at one of the illegal dumping sites in New Brighton. More than 20 truckloads of waste were taken away by the Waste Management Sub-directorate. Buyeye said the Metro was stretching its resources to make sure that residents live in a health-hazard-free environment, by repeatedly clearing the same areas.
“The sad part is that refuse collection in these areas takes place as per the schedule, but some residents don’t want to wake up early to take their refuse out for collection. They will wait until evening when it’s dark to dump it. This is doesn’t benefit nor help our communities, hence we need to reprimand each other, take collective responsibility and accountability for waste management, as neighbours,” he added”.
One of the residents, Diniso Qwambe said,”this is a serious challenge for the community, maybe we need to discuss the frequency and the time of collection with the Metro to limit the chances of illegal dumping. A united action by both the Metro and the community can bring about a sustainable solution,” said Qwambe.
Ward 17 Councillor, Ludwe Mnyanda said, “following the clearing of the current illegal dumping sites, more collective and consultative efforts need to be done.
It is important to bring about sustainable solutions to this challenge. We have agreed with the community to look at such solutions,” added Ward Councillor Mnyanda.
Through the elimination of illegal dumping sites and the greening programme, the Metro has converted 11 open spaces that were used as illegal dumping sites into children’s play parks in New Brighton and 10 in Bethelsdorp, with one coming in the next financial year.
The elimination of illegal dumping and the greening programme is a continuous programme that has already covered all the areas of the Metro.
The Metro has added 1036 staff through its Extended Public Works Programme at a cost of R10 million per financial year to beef up waste management work that includes refuse collection, the clearing of illegal dumping sites and litter picking.
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