Illegal dumping, litter fuel crime
ACANT plots of land, pathways in between houses and pavements outside schools in Chatsworth and Phoenix are being polluted with dirty diapers, rotting fish, spoilt food, rubble, broken furniture and appliances. Foul smells emanating from the illegal dumping add to the problem. Some of the affected areas are:
CHATSWORTH
“Croftdene in Chatsworth was once a plush area but now every corner has piles of torn bin bags, rubble and broken furniture. The area is infested with dirt,” said Don Baijnath, law enforcement officer for natural resources for the eThekwini Municipality in Chatsworth.
“This problem stems from community apathy, laziness and disregard for the environment. Vacant plots, pathways and the border of the Silverglen Nature Reserve that falls along Croftdene, as well as plots of land outside schools, were recently ankle-deep in litter and filth. The smells were so bad you could not breathe properly,” said Baijnath.
He said a clean up operation was done about three months ago to eradicate the problem but it had resurfaced.
He blamed residents for not caring for the environment.
“Residents take pride in ensuring their yards are kept neat and tidy but right next to them pathways and sports fields are filled with litter. It’s a terrible sight and a disgusting way to live. Many culprits are too lazy to wake up early and place their bin bags outside their homes for municipal workers to pick up. When they miss the bin truck the only option is to illegally dump.”
Baijnath said signs warning that dumping was prohibited did not stop people.
“We need harsher punishment. Right now the R500 fine does not cut it. We need to raise the fine to at least R5 000 so residents know we are serious.”
He said residents needed a change of mindset and a sense of responsibility toward the environment.
The chairman of the Silverglen Self-help Committee, Shaun Hammond, said the dumping impacted on their fight against crime.
“The nature reserve is filled with empty boxes, broken bottles and appliances. When criminals hide in the reserve after committing robberies, sniffer dogs are unable to search the reserve properly because of all the dirt. People need to catch a wake up. They have no sense of respect when it comes to the environment,” said Hammond. “They are only doing themselves a disservice.”
PHOENIX
“Illegal dumping is sweeping residential areas like an epidemic with no cure. Municipal officials are struggling to deal with the problem and to find a solution,” said local DA councillor Tino Pillay.
Pillay, who is in charge of Ward 49 in Phoenix, said his most affected area was Eastbury Drive, bordering a residential area and a railway line.
“Bin bags containing sanitary pads, dirty diapers and spoilt foods top the list of the most gruesome things being dumped. I have caught people and building contractors dumping dirt and rubble on this plot. We are plagued with a foul smell and an infestation of rats, snakes and flies.”
Pillay said residents needed to be taught a lesson. “They need to be given heavier fines and even prosecuted. They are killing the environment and it needs to be stopped.”
OTTAWA
Ottawa was once a small, homely neat village with plush grass. However, with the arrival of businesses things have taken a drastic turn.
Andisha Maharaj, facilitator at the Ottawa environmental forum, said the area’s natural environment was being marred by scrap yards along its main road.
“Business owners also dump waste, building refuse and rubble into the Ohlanga River. The river is polluted with oil. The bridge underneath the river is a dumping ground with people from in and out of the area dumping old computer equipment and other appliances.”
Maharaj said residents took care of their yards but used vacant plots of land to dump their refuse and dirt.
“Many of them don’t want to clean up the area because they believe they are ratepayers and it is the municipality’s job to do so. Residents tend to forget their civic duties and responsibilities when it comes to keeping their areas clean,” she said.
While the eThekwini Municipality could not be reached for comment on illegal dumping, the city’s Durban Solid Waste unit has done clean ups since Friday in oThongathi (Tongaat), Phoenix, Isipingo, uMlazi, Lamontville, Wentworth, Merebank, Folweni and Ezimbokodweni.
DSW’s manager of Education and Waste Minimisation, Nana Ndlovu, encouraged the public to participate in ongoing clean ups in their communities.
“We want residents to take ownership of their city,” she said. “It starts with you in your home and community. Be proactive and make a difference by keeping it litter free.”