City opens hotline to deal with illegal dumping
Illegally disposing off waste is a punishable offence that goes with a hefty sentence and even jail time, according to the City of Ekurhuleni.
Some examples include people creating waste heaps around open spaces and sometimes around public facilities like schools and churches.
In these open spaces, residents illegally dispose and sometimes burn the waste. This has harmful health effects on the people living in that environment, especially in children.
In an effort to curb illegal dumping in the region, the city has launched a hotline to enable residents to report culprits of illegal dumping.
Law abiding citizens can report acts of illegal dumping via email and/or call anonymously.
These facilities have not only been created for illegal dumping but also any form of environmental infringement.
“We have a responsibility to protect the environment and promote cleanliness that is why we have launched this hotline,” says metro spokesman Zweli Dlamini. “Our people rely on the state of cleanliness in the city and we have to respond and work with them to curb any act of criminality against our environment and the people of Ekurhuleni.”
Ekurhuleni Integrated Waste Management By-Laws (2021), prescribes that:
- No person may burn waste either in a public or private place, for the purpose of disposing of that waste and/or salvaging the other products e.g., Scrap metal; and
- No person may incinerate waste either in a public or private place, except in an incinerator at a place where the relevant national or Gauteng provincial authorities permit such incineration in terms of a valid licence, or at a place designated by the Municipality for that purpose.
Another common occurrence in illegal waste management is when people burn old tyres to keep warm during the cold days. This behaviour is unacceptable to the City.
Section 41 (1)(3) and (4) further states that:
- No person may store and/or stockpile waste tyre in a manner that has the potential to cause pollution of the environment or harm to health and well-being.
- No person may recover or dispose waste tyre in a manner that has the potential to cause pollution of the environment or harm to health and well-being, and.
- The owner of the vehicle will be held accountable for his/her vehicle if the vehicle is caught illegally transporting waste tyres.
Residents are encouraged to report environmental crimes by contacting SIFISO NDWANDWE OR TO JUSTICE NDOBE AT 011 999 3376/2244 OR EMAIL TO EnviroCrimes&Complains@ekurhuleni.gov.za