Request to replace black bag system with wheelie bins

Good day Mayor, I hope you find this writing satisfactory.

I am Niklaas Willemse, a visitor to your town, from Stellenbosch. Every festive season, my family and I visit relatives in George to let off some steam. George is the place to be and I also have to say that the town is a haven to enjoy a break. The view is breathtaking, especially when a visitor enters George from Mossel Bay on the N2. Breathtaking!

What certainly upsets me is the fact that George Municipality still adopts the black bag system in certain neighbourhoods.

Black bag system:

means unhygienic and contributes to disease

poses a danger (glass, sharp objects, etc) to the local community as well as the employees of the local municipality who collect the bags on certain days in general.

means that some of the residents have to carry their garbage in their homes until the day of garbage removal, which contributes flies in their homes (I myself am a living witness because you can't even take an afternoon nap because of the flies).

Leaving their black bags with garbage outside leads to the tearing of black bags by the dogs and this brings conflict among neighbours.

Black bags have been thrown at houses every three (3) months which leads to bags being stolen by some of the residents and contributes to those then having to go and buy their own black bags.

Unhygienic and unsafe !!!

During my journey through George neighbourhoods, I stopped a bit and communicated with residents of:

Pacaltsdorp

Rosedale

Thembalethu

Lawaaikamp

Maraispark

Parkdene

Conville

Rosemoor

Proteapark

Lavalia

Blanco

Heather Park

My findings are that Rosedale in Pacaltsdorp was the last building but flaunts wheelie bins.

I am amazed!

My request is that you would like to make provision or adjustments in your next budget (2022/3) that every household will be provided with a wheelie bin and do away with the black bag system.

I feel that you need to go back to the EMA (Educate Mobilise & Act) framework.

I ask that this matter be given immediate attention.

Your responsiveness to the town's concerns thus far in terms of office make me certain that you will give equal weight to my request. Thank you for your time.

"When your environment is clean, you feel motivated and happy".

George Municipality responds:

We would like to thank the visitor for their interest and contribution towards the municipal refuse removal services.

In the past, we have acquired wheelie bins as the budget has allowed. George Municipality, at this stage, is providing refuse bags quarterly to all households and additionally is motivating the communities to separate waste at source through the three-bag system. We are advocates and supporters of the three-bag system of separation of waste at the source, which assists our composting operation for which we have received funding and enables us to divert waste from landfill through the green and blue bags.

The municipality strives to reach the diversion targets as set out in the national waste management strategy. We are also constantly looking at how to reduce the illegal dumping of waste and improve health and safety in handling waste.

However, we will once again review the cost implication of possibly using the wheelie bins during the budget process. Indications are that the acquisition and roll-out of wheelie bins for the whole of George Municipal area is a substantial investment of approximately R70m. This amount will have to be recovered through the refuse tariffs. Should this route be considered, alternatives such as outsourcing the acquiring of wheelie bins through hire services cannot be ruled out.