Authorities will pay up to R1000 for photographs on the perpetrators of illegal dumping the city. The City of Cape Town has urged the public to assist in clamping down on illegal dumpers, amid an increase in dumping.  On Thursday, Mayor Patricia De Lille and members of the City’s task teams visited some of the illegal dumping hot spots in Philippi and Mitchells Plain.

During their inspections, the teams found a man illegally dumping building rubble at one of the illegal dumping hot spots in Philippi. The perpetrator was issued with a written notice to appear in court with an admission of guilt fine for R5 000.

“I was shocked to see the vast amount of illegal dumping and the complete disregard for the law as well as the health of the public and the environment,” said De Lille.

City enforcement agencies, including Solid Waste Management and Law Enforcement staff, regularly monitor illegal dumping hot spots and since the beginning of the year have issued fines totalling approximately R1 million.

The City’s task team also found illegally dumped medical waste at two sites in Philippi and Beacon Valley, Mitchells Plain. The illegally dumped waste included expired tablets, old medicine bottles and expired baby food.

“This practice not only places a burden on the City’s finances and resources, but can also pose a threat to public health,” said De Lille.

In April 2013, three-year-old Jordan Lewis died after playing near illegally dumped chemical waste in Delft.

To combat this problem, the City spends more than R350 million annually to clear waste from open spaces, sewer systems and toilets – money that could be much better spent on new services and infrastructure, said De Lille.

Anti-dumping campaign and operations are undertaken by task teams comprising members of the City’s departments of Safety and Security, Environmental Health and Environmental Resource Management.

The City is also amending its by-laws to enable the impounding and forfeiture of vehicles used in dumping. This measure is used internationally and has proven to be very effective in deterring illegal dumping.

Although illegal dumping occurs across the city, there are certain hotspots where the problem is more prevalent, such as Nyanga, Philippi, Mitchells Plain and Epping Industria.

“There is no reason for residents to dump waste illegally. The City has 25 waste drop off-sites around the metro for the proper disposal of waste,” De Lille stressed.

Residents can use the following methods to report illegal dumping:
• Call 021 400 6157 or send an e-mail to solidwaste.bylaw@capetown.gov.za
• Contact the City’s call centre on 0860 103 089

Residents can visit the City’s website or their local sub-council office for a list of waste drop-off sites: http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/Solidwaste2/Pages/Dropoffandrecyclingpoints2.aspx