The DA in Mkhondo calls on the MMC of Community Service, Walter Vilakazi to prioritize the purchasing of machinery and ensure that there is compliance at the municipality’s landfill site in Piet Retief.
In the 2023/24 budget, the municipality allocated R5 million for the purchase of a special waste vehicle for the landfill site.
The DA has learnt that the machinery at the landfill site is not in a proper running condition. Thus, it is always being repaired by either the municipal workshop or an outsourced company.
The municipal refuse removal trucks have been dumping the refuse collection on the road going towards the dumping site leaving the site congested with no space for rubble.
It is gravely concerning that for the past six years this landfill site has been in contravention of the National Environmental Waste Act (No.59 of 2008).
The landfill site does not comply with law regulatory waste management policies to protect health and the environment.
As the custodians of the landfill site the municipality has the legal responsibility of ensuring that the site operates according to the standards of the department of Environmental Affairs.
Landfill sites have a section for recycle and non-recyclable waste separately. There is also a need for a designated section for hazardous materials that need to be kept from the public.
It has become evident that the population of Mkhondo is forever increasing, therefore, there is more waste being generated and dumped.
The DA will make sure that the ANC government attends to this disgruntled landfill site, we will not sit and watch the municipality expose residents to respiratory disorders with their unethical practices.