Pe express 24 07 2013 by PE Express

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EDITOR: BETTIE GILIOMEE

Park becomes rubbish dump

‘‘

If the metro can remove the garbage every week, it would help solve this problem

William Bentley stands in front of the huge pile of garbage dumped at a play park in Gelvan. Bentley claims it has been in this state for over three months.

SEAN JOHNSON

PHOTO: DENVER SWANEPOEL

ZELDRÉ SWANEPOEL

HAT is meant to be a place for children to play, has been turned into an eyesore of sorts, with illegally dumped rubbish piling up by the day.

The play park just off Springbok Street in Beverley Hills, Gelvandale, has become a dump where rubbish is strewn all over the green grass on a daily basis. “This is a sick society we are living in,” said community leader William Bentley, who lives close to the site. “The residents are dumping in the very same area where are living. This is unacceptable.” He does not, however, put all the blame on the residents, but feels the municipality should make the eradication of dumping a priority. Currently, garbage is removed only every two weeks and residents are expected to make use of only one “wheelie bin” per household. Business owner Sean Johnson’s spaza shop

and take-aways is situated right opposite the park, and he said it is bad for his business. “This is a symptom of the socio-economic situation coupled with service delivery. Waste accumulates for two weeks and with three people living on a premises one wheelie bin is only just adequate. But in our society, due to the housing backlog, there are often 3-4 generations living on one premises which means one bin fills up within a week. Then these families have no other alternative than to get rid of the garbage. If the metro can remove the garbage every week, it would help solve this problem.” Nathan Koraan, who lives in Zimdahl Street, said he has witnessed how residents dump black bags in the park at night. He feels that parents should educate children from a young age that dumping and littering is wrong. “There are no blue bins on the street corners such as the ones you see in the Western areas. Children throw their sweets and chips wrappers everywhere because there are no bins around. That is why our areas are

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vandale Community Hall. Ward 10 was part of the first phase for weekly collection. This was really a talk show as to date there has been no change in collection. The two new trucks that were supposed to be bought - no tenders out yet. The current contract workers, as well as co-operatives have not been renewed, which means the Municipality is failing our community,” Von Buchenroder explained. He also added that the claim that the Western suburbs is high priority with regard to dumping, is incorrect. “I am dealing with illegal dumping on a daily basis. My office has a roster of our hotspots and we are following it. With regard to the blue bins - there were a couple of them placed in front of shopping centres/shops, however, the criminal element, as well as naughty children, overturned them on a daily basis, hence the request was to move them. “I’ve been approached by a a company that would like to set up a recycle centre in the ward and this is still in process,” Von Buchenroder concluded.

filthy,” Koraan said. Dr Jeff Govender, owner of the FamHealth MediPark which is in close vicinity of the site, said the dumping is of great concern. “The affected area is not directly next to our Medical Centre but the dumping is a huge concern because it presents a health hazard to all residents, especially children who may be injured with sharp objects. Animals may also be affected by eating spoilt food. If not cleared and stopped it will most likely just get worse, and this is something all of us would not like to see happening.” Ward 10 DA Ward Councillor Marshall von Buchenroder does not share the residents’ sentiments that illegal dumping will be eradicated if the frequency of garbage collection is changed. “Residents make use of people cleaning their yards for a mere R10 and these workers feel it fit to dump this waste at any open or even street corner they find. On May 23, 2013 the newly-elected Mayor Oom Ben launched the elimination of illegal dumping in the Gel-

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