Residents of Birch Acres left frustrated over erratic waste collection

by Cllr. Mabekenyane Thamahane — DA Councillor for Ward 90 in Ekurhuleni

Date: 10 March 2021

Release: Immediate

Type: Media Statement

The erratic collection of wheelie bins, along with no communication from the City of Ekurhuleni’s Waste Department have left the residents of Birch Acres Extension 25 highly frustrated.

Usually, waste is collected every Thursday, but over recent months there has been no consistency in waste collection. Sometimes it is on a Monday, while other weeks it’s a Friday. There is simply no communication from the ANC coalition-led* City as to when refuse removal will take place.

This leaves residents unsure of when to leave their wheelie bins out for collection. Ms Tutu Julia Mphogo explains how she leaves her wheelie bin out every Thursday but seldom is it emptied by the waste trucks. As a result, her waste piles up to the point where the bin is at capacity or overflowing, leaving a rancid smell.

It has become a guessing game for residents, in which they hope that their bins will be out when the waste trucks arrive. Compounding the problem, communications from the Waste Department is non-existent leaving residents highly frustrated.

The Democratic Alliance in Ekurhuleni is calling on the MMC for Environmental Resource and Waste Management Services, Ald. Khosi Mabaso, to take accountability for her Department and ensure that Birch Acres residents receive consistent waste collection services. In addition, we call on the Department to be more transparent and forthcoming in communicating with residents regarding waste collection dates to avert a health hazard associated with non-collected waste.

Attached Pic: Birch Acres wheelie bins

*Coalition Partners: African Independent Congress (AIC), Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), Patriotic Alliance (PA) and Independent Ratepayers Association of South Africa (IRASA)

Cllr. Mabekenyane Thamahane

DA Councillor for Ward 90 in Ekurhuleni