The long-awaited approval of the revised Waste Management By-Law, alongside the unveiling of three dedicated waste enforcement vehicles and the appointment of full-time by-law officers, marks a major step in the municipality’s fight against illegal dumping. This waste not only harms the environment but also costs the municipality millions of rands annually to clean up.
This revision signals a shift towards a more sustainable and modern approach to waste management, emphasising prevention, minimisation, reuse, and recycling. While waste management was once the sole responsibility of local government, licensed private contractors can now provide these services under municipal oversight.
Unfortunately, misuse of this system, particularly by unlicensed operators who evade landfill fees and regulations, has led to widespread illegal dumping in open spaces and parks, placing immense strain on municipal resources.
To combat this, the revised by-law introduces an integrated waste management model that encourages public-private partnerships. Key features include:
- Registration of emerging contractors offering waste collection and operating buy-back centres.
- Deployment of Expanded Public Works Programme workers to assist in daily operations.
- Procurement of new vehicles to support waste by-law enforcement.
This model also boosts the local economy by supporting small businesses and informal waste collectors, giving them better access to recyclable material and enabling their participation in waste diversion.
In support of these efforts, the municipality’s Department of Integrated Environmental Management has partnered with various Producer Responsibility Organisations to fund community-based waste minimisation projects. Recycling containers for e-waste and other recyclables have been installed in malls and schools to encourage safe, legal disposal.
With the by-law now in effect, enforcement is intensifying. Offenders face fines of R10,000, vehicle impoundment, or even jail time. Legal and safe disposal options are available, illegal dumping is a choice—and an unacceptable one.