Kensington Factreton Residents and Ratepayers Association illegal dumping committee had a community clean-up operation recently to tackle illegal dumping challenges in the area.
Leslie Swartz, Chair of the association, says illegal dumping is a major concern and adds that the aim of the committee, which was established in 2012, is to educate people about environmental sustainability.
“We aim to combat the universal theory that societies that decline are always preceded by those communities first becoming untidy. To gain an understanding of why people litter and dump and what the factors are that exacerbate this behaviour.”
He says they also aim to engage with the community and the city on solutions to combat this scourge.
“One such solution identified was to provide the community with legal and legitimate recourse to unwanted non-perishable waste and this proposal saw the establishment of our community’s own satellite drop-off (SDO) facility which officially opened in August 2018.”
On Saturday 9 April the team collected 35 bags of litter during their clean-up.
He says they use their clean-ups as an income earning opportunity for the team of whom most are job seekers. He says due to financial constraints clean-ups take place bi-monthly.
Swartz says the community also has a role to play.
“The community often uses the trolley-guys, which aggravates our plight as these guys are also looking for an income. This rubbish does not go to the SDO and gets dumped on the nearest open and vacant field. Make more use of the SDO and work with the ratepayers to assist and advise on getting rid of your unwanted non-perishable waste.”
Swartz encourages residents to start their own neighbourhood cleaning team.
The City of Cape Town says it is determined to tackle illegal dumping and has proposed an increase in its budget to address this.
The total proposed budget for the City’s urban waste management directorate will increase by 13,35% from R4,6 billion in 2021-’22 to R5,2 billion n in 2022-’23.
The funding injection is aimed at restoring hope that if communities work together their area can be transformed into spaces which they can be proud of.
The biggest boost will go towards area cleansing, with an extra R150,8 million available compared to the current financial year. The 240 F refuse bin collection service and drop-offs and landfills will receive an extra R125,4 million and R37,4 million respectively.
The budget for vehicle replacement has also been increased from R187,5 million to R280 million with a view to better ensuring that refuse is picked up on the scheduled day.
Other notable highlights include:
• R1,3 billion for area cleansing services in 2022-’23 (of which R274,9 million is for servicing of informal settlements specifically);
• R784 million to provide door-to-door waste collection and area cleansing in informal settlements over three years;
• R650 million for new waste collection vehicles and equipment over three years.
Grant Twigg, Mayco member for urban waste management, says keeping communities spotless is everyone’s responsibility.
“We are hopeful that another budget boost, combined with increased campaigning and partnerships under the Keep Cape Town Clean banner, will energise and inspire a volunteer spirit in communities. We are putting over R12 million into public education and awareness this financial year, and we are adding R30 million more to combat illegal dumping.”
Twigg encouraged residents to use the solid waste services provided to get rid of their waste, or take recyclables, garden greens and builders rubble to our drop-off facilities.
“The City is also developing innovative approaches to waste management, collection and disposal that could achieve better results in littering/dumping hotspot areas. These will be tested at a pilot scale over the coming years to see if they are feasible for wider rollout. More details will be released in due course.”
For more information on the City’s draft budget, visit: https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Have-your-say/Issues-open-for-public-comment/draft-budget-for 2022-’23.
