Cape Town’s battle against illegal dumping has taken a promising turn, thanks to a collaborative effort between the City’s Urban Waste Management (UWM) and the Community Services and Health (CSH) Directorate.
Joining forces with local communities, this initiative aims to convert nearly 3 000 dumping hotspots across the metro into green, enjoyable spaces.
Also read: Communities and City join forces to make dumping hotspots beautiful
Despite investing hundreds of millions of rands in waste clearance, illegal dumping persists, diverting funds that could enhance infrastructure or uplift residents.
This dumping not only strains the City’s resources but also harms public health and well-being.
A strategy for tackling this issue is the beautification of notorious dumping sites. UWM, in partnership with the Recreation and Parks Department of CSH and community members, is transforming these areas into community gardens featuring indigenous plants. Recent successes include Ward 25’s Galway Street in Connaught and Ward 26’s junction of Halt Road/Hugo Street and Voortrekker Road in Elsies River.
Alderman Grant Twigg, the City’s Mayco member for urban waste management, noted the impact of community involvement:
‘When residents are involved in these efforts, it normally gets better results, as residents have put their blood, sweat and tears into cleaning up the area, and they don’t want to see others ruin their hard work. If residents are able to help keep the site clean for long enough, those who dump will be forced to make another plan for their waste,’ he said.
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Residents and community groups eager to reduce dumping in their areas can reach out to the Solid Waste Events and Partnerships team at [email protected].
Those interested in forming or learning about ‘Friends of Parks’ groups can contact David Dunn at [email protected].
The City maintains a weekly refuse collection service for all households. To further discourage illegal dumping, property owners with additional waste generation are encouraged to apply for extra bins, ensuring their waste is managed responsibly and efficiently.
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Picture: City of Cape Town
