George declares February “ Illegal Dumping Month”
Hibiscus Street, after clearing and beautification using tyres.
The George Municipal Community Services Directorate has declared February, Illegal Dumping Month and kicked off on 5 February with a series of clearing and beautifying of illegal dump sites as well as targeted education and awareness around the danger of illegal dumping. Catch our radio discussions around Illegal Dumping on Eden FM today, Monday 12 February at 16h30 and Heartbeat FM on Thursday 15 February at 16h30.
The Touwsranten graveyard; Thembalethu Mayibuye Street, Nelson Mandela Boulevard behind the stadium and Qhawe Street; Lawaaikamp and Borchards (next to Vaal Winkel) and Conville, Fiskaal Street have all been cleared in the first week of February and fixed up. 5 tipper trucks, a JCB, a team of educators and EPWP officials assisted with the cleaning efforts. Households and spaza shops in Parkdene area were visited and pamphlets highlighting the dangers of illegal dumping and how to recycle were handed out in Leo Street, Paradise Street, Buffel Streets and Crane and Polarise Circles.
Further cleanups will take place in Thembalethu, Parkdene, Maraiskamp, Pacaltsdorp, Rosedale, Conville, Rosemoor, Blanco, Touwsranten, Wilderness Heights and Kleinkrantz this month.
We urge the community to report illegal dumping sites to the Community Services Directorate for clearing on 044 802 2900. But don’t just report it and wait for the municipality to respond. Get involved in your community. The municipality understands the importance of having the full cooperation of the entire community when it comes to cleanliness. Illegal Dumping sites pose a considerable health risk to all those living in the surrounding areas. The municipality spends important resources on constantly clearing the same sites. Tyres have now been used to beautify certain sites and encourage plant growth to stop the communities from repeatedly dumping at the same place. If you want to get involved in clearing, or beautifying and/or maintaining a site already cleared, please contact us on 044 802 2900.
Help the municipality to curb illegal dumping by spreading the news in your community that the dumping of waste is dangerous and a health hazard. Waste should be collected in refuse bags and placed for collection on waste removal days. Builders’ rubble and waste not suitable for bags must be dropped at the municipal refuse site on the R102 (airport road). If you can provide names, vehicle registration details or addresses of alleged perpetrators who have dumped illegally and you are willing to make a statement in this regard, please report it to Law Enforcement at 044 801 6350 or sprins@george.gov.za. You don’t need a photograph of the perpetrator, but it will strengthen the case for a warning or fine to be issued.
A hazardous waste open day will be held on 23 February in the parking area of the Outeniqua Stadium from 08h00 to 15h00, to allow for safe disposal of dangerous items. The municipality will take motor oil, oil filters, brake fluid, used antifreeze, paint, paint thinner, turpentine, pesticides or herbicides, household batteries, old TV’s, electronics, tyres, fluorescent tubes, globes, and household medical waste such as needles, old medicine and tablets. The public is requested to bring the items you wish to dispose of in a strong box preferably in their original, labelled containers. Please do not mix the products together. We are unable to take explosives, ammunition, radioactive materials and controlled substances. Enquiries can be made at 044 802 2900.
Qhawe Street, Thembalethu before and after clearing.
