May 17, 2005
By Bafana Nzimande
PIKITUP has invested R1,2-million in a state-of-the-art street-cleaning machine to tackle grime in the inner city.
The machine, which is being imported from German, is faster than the machines the waste management utility uses now. It is expected to arrive in August and forms part of the utility's campaign to eradicate litter and illegal dumping in the inner city.
Marius de Villiers, Pikitup's communications manager, says the cleaner also does a "deep cleaning of the streets". It uses water and detergents to clean.
Pikitup crews take to the streets of Joburg nightly to sweep, and even wash down, roads and pavements, and the new machine will be used specifically to target the worst streets. These have high volumes of dirt and illegal dumping, such as Jeppe Street in the city centre.
Les Venter, the regional manager of the Selby waste depot, says, "This new street cleaning machine will simplify our nightly cleaning efforts, giving the city that well-polished look."
Pikitup spends R161-million a year on street sweeping operations, with R41,7-million of that spent on stopping illegal dumping around Johannesburg, De Villiers says. Buying the new machine "is in line with
Pikitup's commitment towards excellent service delivery".
Education programmes
Over the years many inner city streets have succumbed to huge volumes of dirt, becoming illegal dumping sites. This prompted Pikitup to launch education and awareness campaigns to combat littering.
"Pikitup has managed to introduced many successful programmes aimed at keeping Johannesburg's streets clean. Even this new street cleaning machine forms part of Pikitup's ongoing inner city education and awareness campaign," De Villiers says.
These campaigns included a bin census, assembling a task team to patrol litter hotspots, and conducting information and education projects among street traders.
While many of the problems in the inner city will take time to resolve, Venter believes Pikitup is closer to ridding the inner city of illegal dumping and litter thanks to the "buy in from the community and local businesses".
Project 100 Spots
Pikitup's anticipated outcome - clean streets
Through Pikitup's Project 100 Spots - identifying waste and dumping hot spots - more than 4 000 illegal dumping spots have been cleared, with the utility collecting more than 250 151 tonnes of illegally dumped rubbish over nine months, between July 2004 and March 2005.
It has also distributed more than 600 000 wheeled 240-litre bins to businesses and households.
In March Pikitup began a census of those who have been given bins, to improve Pikitup's customer service delivery and gather an accurate customer database. The census is under way in all 11 City regions and will continue until the end of June.
"The bin census has contributed towards Pikitup's efforts, encouraging more city residents and businesses to start making good use of their bins," De Villiers says.
For more information about Pikitup, call 011 712 5200.
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