The recent decision by the City of Cape Town to collect recycling on the same day as general refuse came as a result of concerns raised by local residents. Some of them live in Ward 1 areas such as Monte Vista, Plattekloof Glen, Panorama and Welgelegen.
From 1 February the City changed the collection schedule for the Think Twice Recycling service in the northern suburbs and surrounding areas, so recycling collection can now take place on the same day as general refuse collection.
The revised collection schedule applies to several suburbs, which includes Bothasig, Edgemead, Monte Vista, Panorama, Plattekloof in Plattekloof Glen, all Ward 1 areas.
This change follows requests from community members who raised concerns about increased litter and perceived safety risks associated with having separate collection days for recycling and general refuse, the City said earlier.
By aligning the two services residents will need to put their refuse and recycling bins out once a week only, aimed at helping to contain littering, among other things, the City said.
Tyrel Painczyk, chair of the Monte Vista and Plattekloof Glen Ratepayers’ and Residents Association, said the organisation called a meeting with Grant Twigg, Mayco member for Urban Waste Management, on 7 November 2024 to discuss the issue of bin pickers and the chaos this caused in these areas on two weekdays, when it was suggested the City combine both waste and recycling to the same day. “While it’s not an ultimate solution and permanent fix it would help in ensuring the safety of our community.
“After many follow-ups that day has finally arrived and we are very excited about that. The logistical challenge would have been enormous shifting multiple suburbs across the northern suburbs for this to become a reality.”
Twigg confirmed a meeting was held with the residents of Ward 1 to resolve challenges with the previous refuse and recycling bin collection days.
“The change in the recycling-collection day to the same day as the refuse-collection day is a result of requests by residents and ward councillors to reduce bin-collection days from two to one, in this way addressing a challenge around bin pickers and litter in the streets.”
The PWP Residents Ratepayers Association also requested for the change in dates.
In October 2025 PWP member Willem Voges wrote letters to the sub-council requesting a formal review of the municipal waste collection schedule in their area, proposing that the collection of solid waste and recycling be moved to the same day of the week.
“Moving to a singe collection day is a straightforward adjustment that would yield significant, immediate benefits for all residents, improving the aesthetics, security and overall livability of our community.”
Going forward residents are reminded that they should not place bins out earlier than the evening before collection and to remove bins from the street as soon as possible after collection.
