Business welcomes Butterworth’s cleanup campaign over 10 days
Butterworth businesses are relieved after their cries were heard by the Mnquma municipality, who have launched a 10day cleanup campaign by tackling illegal dumping sites across the town.
Scores of municipal officials with heavy machinery embarked on a huge blitz to clear widespread illegal dumping sites around Butterworth, encouraging residents to convert the open spaces into vegetable gardens or recreational areas.
Mnquma spokesperson Loyiso Mpalantshane said the campaign had started on Monday last week and would include all affected wards around Butterworth, targeting identified illegal dumping zones.
“Illegal dumped waste emits toxic fumes that contaminate the air, potentially leading to respiratory diseases which can negatively affect children and the elderly, especially those suffering from chronic ailments. Residents are urged to use municipal refuse collection trucks to dispose of domestic waste.”
“This cleaning up of the illegal dumping sites was proposed by businesses, as there was no provision of a designated area where waste should be dumped.
“People depended only on the municipal refusal collection that is done on a weekly basis,” Amathole region chair of the National Federated Chamber of Commerce Zukile Mbelani said. “There was no place to dispose of other waste and rubble.”
Mbelani complimented the municipality for taking the initiative of working hand in hand with residents.
“This is going have a huge effect in growing the economy of Butterworth as it will attract more businesses that want to start up in the town.”
Mbelani emphasised that more cleanup campaigns were needed to raise awareness, and for the bylaws to be clearer and available for those who did not have knowledge of them.
Mpalantshane said the municipality had strongly advised residents to dump excess waste at the Eastern Regional landfill site in Ibika Township to avoid prosecution. According to the municipal bylaws, offenders are liable to a R600 fine for illegal waste disposal.
“Illegally dumped waste is a recipe for disaster and pollutes the air we breathe. The harmful toxins it gives off affect our environment and deplete the ozone layer, which in turns causes climate change,” said Mpalantshane.
He said nearly 500 tons of domestic waste went through the weighbridge at the eastern regional site every month.
“Law enforcement authorities are monitoring illegal disposal of waste, and environmental health officials have agreed to raise awareness about the effects of illegal dumping at community meetings, working with councillors and ward committee members.
“This is a preventive strategy that complements the municipality’s annual regular cleanup campaigns and environmental health awareness initiatives that take place in various schools,” Mpalantshane said.