Illegal dumping clean-up campaign launched
Greater Knysna experienced a disturbing increase in illegal dumping during lockdown.
In response, Knysna Municipality has identified the main areas of concern and launched a campaign to clean up these sites.
“Illegal dumping is not a new problem,” said Acting Municipal Manager Dr Louis Scheepers. “Targeting the areas in question is one step in a continuous effort to clean up where others discard their rubbish unlawfully.”
“The campaign requires the cooperation of various internal and external departments and holds the potential for job creation. It will also focus on the eradication of alien invasive plant species where necessary.”
The campaign will target:
- The Sedgefield Dune (behind Smutsville/Sizamile);
- A section of Ward 3’s 7de Laan;
- Three areas in Ward 4;
- A site in Ward 5’s Rheenendal;
- Sections of Gladstone Street and Bigai in Ward 6;
- An area near the R339 in the vicinity of Dam-se-Bos;
- The channel next to the outdoor gym in Ward 8;
- A section off Botha Street (the Noetzie Road) in Ward 11;
- The play park in Calendar Street, also Ward 11; and
- Sites on either side of the AGS Church, also in Ward 11.
Aside from simply cleaning up, potential solutions have been identified to discourage future illegal dumping at some of the sites. These possibilities include converting certain sites into play areas, parks or leisure areas for residents to enjoy; constructing waste storage facilities in others; or even creating community-run food gardens where possible and sustainable.
“We run cleaning operations as a matter of course,” said Scheepers. “We will intensify the existing cooperation between our environmental management and solid waste sections, as well as our grass cutting and stormwater and channel cleaning teams in efforts to close the lid on illegal dumping.”
“Of course, the most effective way to deal with this problem is to eliminate the source,” he concluded. “Businesses and private individuals need to dispose of their waste responsibly, in the manner made available to them. We need to destroy this culture of littering – be it dropping a sweet’s wrapper on the pavement or dumping waste on the side of the road. We must all work together to keep Knysna clean.”
Please report illegal dumping by contacting Natalie Salmons via email or tel 081 556 9374.