Waste winning illegal-dumping war

[caption id="attachment_101372" align="aligncenter" width="597"] WHAT A TIP: A rubbish dump in Malinga Street, Wells Estate, remains a cause for concern. Picture: EUGENE COETZEE[/caption]

Residents say stepping up collections has failed to make an impact

THE Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is fighting a losing battle in its war against illegal-dumping, despite pumping millions of rands into the problem. Clothing, old tyres, soiled nappies and even electrical goods are strewn over illegal dumps across the city.

In a move to tackle the problem, the municipality increased refuse collection in some townships from fortnightly to weekly. Until May, the municipality only collected refuse on a weekly basis in middle to upperclass suburbs.

But residents and politicians still say not enough is being done.

Financial constraints and labour disputes have hampered implementation of the programme for three years.

The new weekly collections include 28 wards in areas such as Helenvale, Barcelona, Allan Heights, Schauderville, New Brighton, Kwazakhele, Zwide and KwaNobuhle.

The Herald visited 18 of the 28 wards where the new weekly refuse collection was rolled out to curb illegal dumping. All 18 had illegal dumpsites.

In Helenvale, children play in the heaps of rubbish left by residents.

Resident Rochelle van Raynor, 33, who lives across the road from the illegal dump on Fitchard Street, said the rubbish had caused an infestation of rats and that the site had not been cleaned in two months.

“There used to be a children’s park where the dump is now.”

-Melitta Ngalonkulu