A Crop of rectangular and triangular concrete bins, which sprang up in East London four years ago and are now damaged or lying uselessly on their sides, have been labelled a hazardous eyesore by ratepayers and businesses.
When they first appeared, the charcoal-coloured bins bore bright advertisements for local businesses, but most of these have disappeared.
Promotional posters and adverts for penis enlargements and abortions are now plastered on some of them.
“I was amazed when they just popped up,” said Automall dealer principal Pieter Uys.
“They are like a permanent fixture, but if you put an ugly, rectangular thing up there should be an agreement that they are at least installed consistently, yet there appears to have been no effort to place them neatly.
“Some are half on the pavement and half on the grass and others are not level.
“Many are chipped and broken and there has been no attempt to pick up the ones that have fallen. Some also block traffic sight-lines.”
Buffalo City Metro spokesman Sibusiso Cindi said a private business called Condo Signs had been contracted in May 2012 to “erect, supply and maintain litter bin advertising”.
He said this contract had ended in May last year and no company had been awarded a new contract to “look after” the bins.
Cycle HQ manager Jill Butler said one of the bins had been knocked over in a motor vehicle accident about six weeks ago and was now lying on its side in a pull-off parking area on Old Transkei Road.
“It is a hazard and unsightly, and it’s heavy so we can’t move it,” she said.
Referring to the bins as “monster triangle things”, DA ward councillor Marion Mackley said she had requested that BCM remove bins that had toppled over.
“They have fallen over all over town – in Southernwood, Fleet Street, Old Transkei Road and Beacon Bay – and are a tripping hazard to pedestrians.
“The municipality obviously paid for them and it is their responsibility to service them, in the same way as they do the green bins,” she said.
Buffalo City Ratepayers’ Forum chairman Andre Swart said the bins were impractical because their interiors were too small.
“They hardly ever get emptied and so many are lying on their sides and the ones in the Quigney have penis posters stuck to them.”
Swart added that some of the bins obstructed traffic at intersections.
“You can’t see if cars are coming and have to move forward into the traffic.
“I think the initial idea of having adverts on them was good, but BCM did not control it.”
Cindi said there was no current contract to sell advertising on the bins, and the municipality was no longer generating revenue from them.
“As soon as the new outdoor concrete bins tender is awarded, the appointed company will be required to fix the bins,” he said. — barbarah@dispatch.co.za
‘Monster bins’ have to be fixed or removed
When they first appeared, the charcoal-coloured bins bore bright advertisements for local businesses, but most of these have disappeared.
Promotional posters and adverts for penis enlargements and abortions are now plastered on some of them.
“I was amazed when they just popped up,” said Automall dealer principal Pieter Uys.
“They are like a permanent fixture, but if you put an ugly, rectangular thing up there should be an agreement that they are at least installed consistently, yet there appears to have been no effort to place them neatly.
“Some are half on the pavement and half on the grass and others are not level.
“Many are chipped and broken and there has been no attempt to pick up the ones that have fallen. Some also block traffic sight-lines.”
Buffalo City Metro spokesman Sibusiso Cindi said a private business called Condo Signs had been contracted in May 2012 to “erect, supply and maintain litter bin advertising”.
He said this contract had ended in May last year and no company had been awarded a new contract to “look after” the bins.
Cycle HQ manager Jill Butler said one of the bins had been knocked over in a motor vehicle accident about six weeks ago and was now lying on its side in a pull-off parking area on Old Transkei Road.
“It is a hazard and unsightly, and it’s heavy so we can’t move it,” she said.
Referring to the bins as “monster triangle things”, DA ward councillor Marion Mackley said she had requested that BCM remove bins that had toppled over.
“They have fallen over all over town – in Southernwood, Fleet Street, Old Transkei Road and Beacon Bay – and are a tripping hazard to pedestrians.
“The municipality obviously paid for them and it is their responsibility to service them, in the same way as they do the green bins,” she said.
Buffalo City Ratepayers’ Forum chairman Andre Swart said the bins were impractical because their interiors were too small.
“They hardly ever get emptied and so many are lying on their sides and the ones in the Quigney have penis posters stuck to them.”
Swart added that some of the bins obstructed traffic at intersections.
“You can’t see if cars are coming and have to move forward into the traffic.
“I think the initial idea of having adverts on them was good, but BCM did not control it.”
Cindi said there was no current contract to sell advertising on the bins, and the municipality was no longer generating revenue from them.
“As soon as the new outdoor concrete bins tender is awarded, the appointed company will be required to fix the bins,” he said. — barbarah@dispatch.co.za
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