Filthy dump to be turned into recycling centre
THE Algoa transfer station, which until now has taken in rubbish from parts of Port Elizabeth’s northern areas, will be transformed into a municipal recycling hub next year.
This follows a litany of complaints from Algoa Park residents about its appalling condition due to the illegal dumping and burning of refuse.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality shut the Algoa transfer station down yesterday after giving it a good clean.
This will be the second recycling hub in the city after the Kragga Kamma transfer station was modified earlier this year.
Nelson Mandela Bay deputy mayor Mongameli Bobani said the Algoa transfer station was no longer conducive.
“The bad conditions also led to criminality – people used it as a hideout.”
Bobani, political head of the public health portfolio, said the Algoa transfer station would have security guards on site 24 hours a day.
“[It] has been cleaned and we want to turn it into a recycling hub next year.”
He said plans were still at an early stage, as no budget had been approved for the recycle hub at the Algoa transfer station.
“But this will finally happen. It is just a matter of time,” he said.
Mayoral rapid response task team coordinator Zonile Ndoni said the closure was a victory for the residents.
“This is like a Christmas bonus for the families staying around this area.
“We have a received a number of complaints for the past three years.”
Algoa Park salon owner Estelle Potgieter, 40, said she was thrilled over the transfer station’s closure.
“This is good news for us as we will not have to celebrate Christmas inside because of the heavy smoke coming from there.”
Potgieter, who has been complaining about the smoke and illegal dumping for the past two years, said the transfer station was a health hazard.
“Every day, we had people burning rubbish and rubble. That affected many businesses around here.
“Our homes were always filled with smoke, which was a health hazard.”
Residents can still use the Helenvale and Kwa-Magxaki transfer stations.