Rehabilitated illegal dump in Bram Fischerville, Soweto

RELATED LINKS: Pikitup buys R1,2m cleaning machine PIKITUP has invested over a million rand in a state-of-the-art street-cleaning machine to help keep Joburg spotless. Read more New loaders help Pikitup EFFORTS to stamp out illegal dumping have been given a boost by the acquisition of two new wheel loaders. Read more Landfill site transformed into park THE Linbro Park landfill site is to be transformed into a recreation area as part of Pikitup's ongoing effort to rehabilitate all five of Joburg's landfill sites. Read more City digs deep for a new landfill site PIKITUP, the City of Johannesburg's waste-management company, is to develop a new landfill site near Diepsloot for the disposal of rubbish from the northern suburbs. Read more

Don't litter, warns Pikitup JOBURGERS have been warned not to dump their waste or throw litter on the streets. The penalties are stiff - fines or jail time. December 21, 2005 By Buhle Makabane HUGE amounts of waste are usually dumped over the festive season, and Pikitup is urging Joburgers not to throw away their rubbish carelessly. Dumping litter along the side of the road may not seem like a crime but it is, and offenders can be fined - or sent to jail for up to six months. Over the years many inner city streets have become illegal dumping sites, with huge volumes of rubbish left on the streets and pavements. Dumping and littering is a persistent and widespread problem in Johannesburg. And now the City is emphasising that it is "illegal to dump waste on any vacant property, open spaces and pavement". "Residents are urged to stop this habit or face the consequences of their actions by paying fines ranging from R300 to R1 000," warned the City of Johannesburg liaison officer, Nthatisi Modingoane. "To coincide with the increase in rejected material, the City's law enforcement agencies are to step up prosecutions against residents who litter and create unhealthy conditions by dumping at open sites, at undeveloped spaces and on the streets." The law enforcement agencies have the authority to enforce laws against littering and illegal dumping. Pikitup believes children who play in open areas containing dumped waste are at risk of being injured by broken glass, sharp pieces of metal, used hypodermic needles or other dangerous items in the waste. Perishable waste like discarded food also creates an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. Illegal dumping costs the City about R51-million a year to collect and dispose of properly. Residents are encouraged to report any person who is dumping or littering near their property, through the Joburg connect number on 011 375 5555. The City relied on the assistance of its citizens to make Joburg a better place for all to live in and to make it world-class African city we can all be proud of, Modingoane added. Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as: Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency (www.joburg.org.za)"; If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original article on this website; The name of the article's author is acknowledged; The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill in this brief online form). Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 Print this Page E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za