Pikitup not working as befits its name – residents
RESIDENTS complain on a daily basis about Pikitup.
Despite sharp increases in refuse collection, in some areas as much as 68%, ratepayers say the service is very poor with timetables not being adhered to. This results in overflowing bins and trashed streets. This, they claim, leads to bins being stolen which in turn, leads to illegal dumping.
In some parts of the inner city, particularly towards the eastern side, the streets are piled with litter.
Pikitup has failed on its promise to deliver bins since last year, giving new deadlines every time.
This time, the utility has promised new bins by the end of this month.
Member of the mayoral committee for for environment and infrastructure services Nico de Jager said Pikitup had a contract in place to supply bins. However, there were “challenges” with the contract and, as a result, Pikitup is on the verge of concluding contracts with other service providers to provide sufficient bins and to keep some in its inventory.
“We anticipate that the supply chain management processes will be finalised this week and the order for bins will be placed in the week of February 11,” De Jager said, adding that it normally takes an average of 10 working days for the order to be delivered by the suppliers. Pikitup expects that bins will be available to customers by the end of this month.
De Jager said Pikitup is supposed to take black waste bags provided they are not filled with green waste. Residents should report workers who demand money for collecting bags by taking the truck’s registration number and reporting this to the waste management entity, so the necessary disciplinary steps can be instituted against employees responsible.