The City’s Urban Waste Management (UWM) Directorate’s Basket of Waste Services Roadshow stopped at the Saxonsea Community Hall on Tuesday, 11 July.
It aimed to raise awareness of how to dispose of waste correctly and minimise illegal dumping, which is degrading areas and in which residents had a key role to play, Grant Twigg, Mayco Member for Urban Waste Management (UWM), said.
He added he was pleased with residents coming out to engage with representatives from the directorate. Twigg said the engagement was about cleansing services, particularly area cleaning, removal of illegal dumping and refuse collection in informal settlements.
Refuse collection services involve the emptying of the 2 401 wheelie bins on collection day, the running of the Think-Twice recycling collection service in participating areas and to find the contact details of the relevant service provider.
Also, waste minimisation, which involves guiding all stakeholders on strategies to increase waste minimisation and helping to facilitate a circular economy in Cape Town.
Then there are events and partnerships, which includes once-off volunteer community clean-up events and other partnerships.
Also, there is the implementation of policy and strategy, through strategic support, accreditation of waste-management service providers responsible for implementing the Integrated Waste Management Policy and Bylaw and the development of the UWM sector plan.
Bylaw enforcement involves waging war on illegal dumping through enforcement of the Integrated Waste Management Bylaw.
Revenue management sets tariffs and manages budgets for the directorate, ensuring collected revenue.
Twigg said 200 home-composting containers were distributed to residents at the event at no charge, from the Revenue Management branch’s table. He said the containers were distributed on a first-come-first-served basis and residents, only had to bring a recent municipal account and their ID book/card to benefit.
Home-composting containers assist with the diversion of organic waste from the landfill, extending available landfill airspace and reducing its global-warming potential, he said. “We also want to hear thoughts and suggestions from communities on how resources can be used more effectively,” Twigg urged.
