Calls grow for better waste solutions in Ward 98 communities

The Citizen

3 days ago

Leaders in Ward 98 have shared that much more needs to be done to address the root causes of littering.
This, as illegal dumping and the lack of accessible landfill sites remain obstacles towards a cleaner and healthier community.
While recent initiatives such as the rollout of new household bins have brought relief to residents, the local leaders are calling for reform in the waste sector to ensure a cleaner society.
Ward 98 committee member for the Environment and Agriculture portfolio, Thabo Moroane, said the recent bin delivery campaign was based on the understanding that many bins are either damaged beyond repair or stolen.
'The decision to roll out was based on the premise that bins get damaged or stolen. But household bins alone cannot solve littering across our ward. We need concrete bins on every corner of our streets,' he said.
'The issue of illegal dumping remains an elephant in the room and, importantly, the scarcity of landfills. We need sustainable solutions that give residents legal, convenient ways to dispose of their waste,' he explained.
While many residents have welcomed the new bins, Moroane stressed that a clean ward is a shared responsibility.
'It will have an impact in the long run because not only do we bring services to the doorstep, but we also deliver a message about the fundamentals of no littering.
'We also drive home the importance of taking ownership of our ward, in particular to our youth and children,' he said.
For Moroane, the problem is not just about waste management infrastructure, but also education.
He said that through community clean-up initiatives and outreach programmes at schools and churches, residents can educate their children, especially those at primary school, about the importance of a clean environment.
Residents said the challenges are visible in everyday life.
Ellen Masemola of Hesteapark said illegal dumping has become worse over the past few years.
Masemola added that they've seen people dumping in open spaces, and that's frustrating, because they try to keep the area clean, but all it takes is one person to ruin it for everyone.
'If the municipality could give us more accessible dumping sites or bins, people might stop doing it.'
Moroane has also raised concern about the difference in cleanliness across the ward.
'I have benchmarked Sinoville and Pretoria East in terms of their environmental cleanliness and their obsession with fighting illegal dumping.
'Within Ward 98, there are community areas that are clean and well-maintained, while large parts continue to degrade. It can't be correct.
'The cleanliness you see when you enter Ninapark must be the same when you enter Eldorette or Hesteapark,' he said.
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