Mechanical problems with collection trucks have been blamed for the heaps of uncollected rubbish left piling up around the city.
Buffalo City Metro spokesman Thandy Matebese said the waste management department was collecting garbage weekly, but there were delays due to the availability of trucks as a result of mechanical problems.
Areas such as Southernwood and Quigney, where there is a mixture of both business and residential establishments, were the hardest hit as they had different collection schedules.
Matebese said despite this challenge, the department was making provisions to collect in such areas over weekends, as a means of increasing the services.
Matebese said the metro did have compactor trucks to do the job, although the trucks were not always available to full capacity.
Meanwhile, rubbish is piling up around the city, with residents up in arms and demanding answers.
In a number of reports in the Daily Dispatch over the last few weeks, BCM residents have complained about the stench, flies, maggots and unsightly view of rubbish, which often sits uncollected in front of their houses for days on end.
Residents from Palm Grove, Southernwood, Duncan Village and Gonubie have called the Dispatch to complain.
The worst hit area is Duncan Village, where rubbish was allegedly last collected in November last year.
Buffalo City Ratepayers’ Forum chairman Andre Swart said while the garbage in his area had been collected as per schedule yesterday, there was no guarantee it would be the case next week.
“What I don’t understand is that these trucks are new so how could they be experiencing mechanical failure.
“They were bought in 2014, along with new sweepers.
“So it’s difficult for me to understand whether the issue lies with poor fleet management or whether the parts are difficult to source or what.”
According to BCM’s 2014/15 annual report, the solid waste management department had purchased eight compactor trucks, six mechanical sweepers and two TLB’s.
Matebese said the only option for ratepayers was to dump their garbage at the Roundhill Landfill Site in Berlin.
“It is expected the closure of Stoney Drift will cause a spike in illegal dumping.
“The solid waste department is busy looking for an alternative site that will take refuse once Stoney Drift is closed.”
Shortage of trucks to blame for smelly garbage piling up
Buffalo City Metro spokesman Thandy Matebese said the waste management department was collecting garbage weekly, but there were delays due to the availability of trucks as a result of mechanical problems.
Areas such as Southernwood and Quigney, where there is a mixture of both business and residential establishments, were the hardest hit as they had different collection schedules.
Matebese said despite this challenge, the department was making provisions to collect in such areas over weekends, as a means of increasing the services.
Matebese said the metro did have compactor trucks to do the job, although the trucks were not always available to full capacity.
Meanwhile, rubbish is piling up around the city, with residents up in arms and demanding answers.
In a number of reports in the Daily Dispatch over the last few weeks, BCM residents have complained about the stench, flies, maggots and unsightly view of rubbish, which often sits uncollected in front of their houses for days on end.
Residents from Palm Grove, Southernwood, Duncan Village and Gonubie have called the Dispatch to complain.
The worst hit area is Duncan Village, where rubbish was allegedly last collected in November last year.
Buffalo City Ratepayers’ Forum chairman Andre Swart said while the garbage in his area had been collected as per schedule yesterday, there was no guarantee it would be the case next week.
“What I don’t understand is that these trucks are new so how could they be experiencing mechanical failure.
“They were bought in 2014, along with new sweepers.
“So it’s difficult for me to understand whether the issue lies with poor fleet management or whether the parts are difficult to source or what.”
According to BCM’s 2014/15 annual report, the solid waste management department had purchased eight compactor trucks, six mechanical sweepers and two TLB’s.
Matebese said the only option for ratepayers was to dump their garbage at the Roundhill Landfill Site in Berlin.
“It is expected the closure of Stoney Drift will cause a spike in illegal dumping.
“The solid waste department is busy looking for an alternative site that will take refuse once Stoney Drift is closed.”
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