Residents have bemoaned the fact for some time now that Nelson Mandela Bay, once quite renowned for its clean streets, has become one big dump site. Just take a drive through areas such as Central and you’ll invariably see piles of unsightly rubbish scattered under trees and all over sidewalks.

Illegal dumping of building rubble and other waste has also become commonplace, and unauthorised sites like the one that is mushrooming in Fairview or at the entrance to Arlington race course are a drop in the ocean...