According to spokesperson of Pikitup Muzi Mkhwanazi, the illegal dumping spots in Soweto are being cleaned and later they mushroom again.
Muzi Mkhwanazi urged that dumping illegally is a criminal activity.
“Therefore, Pikitup needs communities to refrain from disposing off waste illegally and in case where there are insufficient bins in a household such as a household can apply for an additional bins. Dumping litter is also a criminal offence; residents are encouraged to report illegal dumpers to the JMPD’s hotline number that has been specifically designed to deal with incidences of illegal dumping.”
Residents from Molapo in Soweto also echoes what Mkhwanazi has said about the disposal of garbage. They said that people from the township are the one that contribute to the mushrooming of dumpsites in the area. They added that the community must change their mindset.
Residents are encouraged to take the details of the illegal dumper and vehicle registration number, a photograph of the illegal dumping, date and the area.
Community members are advised to whatsapp the information to JMPD whatsapp hotline and report illegal dumping to the number because it is a collective effort.
Mkhwanazi added that the Jozi@Work programme sub-contracts that regularly kept the illegal dumping sites clean was halted as a Mayoral directive. However, qualifying former Jozi@Work employees have been absorbed into Pikitup operations.
“Pikitup conducts education and awareness campaign to raise awareness against illegal dumping and communities are engaged in the firm of door to door campaign and schools are visited to educate school children about the negative effects of illegal dumping. We promote the three Rs of waste management, which are to reduce reuse and recycle. By writing informative stories about the negative effects of illegal dumping, we address the negative health and financial implications and negative environmental implications. Constant education and the need to communicate the value of recycling will eventual lead to a change in behavior towards recycling”, said Mkhwanazi.
Pikitup is planning to involve recyclers through the Environment Infrastructure Services Department, which is spearheading a project to register and formalize waste pickers with the objective of assisting them to benefit from the waste value chain.
