Bulawayo steps up war against illegal dumping

BULAWAYO City Council is stepping up efforts to tackle illegal dumping, with councillors calling for tougher enforcement, more community sweepers and a sustained programme to clear growing dumpsites across the city.

According to the latest council minutes, illegal dumpsites are mushrooming in several suburbs, placing additional pressure on community cleaners and stretching the local authority's already limited resources.

The council's health and housing directorate said the growing problem was undermining efforts to restore and maintain cleanliness across Bulawayo.

The latest cleansing report shows that daily street sweeping and clean-up campaigns continued during the reporting period. However, refuse collection in the central business district remained below desired levels because of a shortage of collection vehicles.

On average, only five refuse compactors were available each day in the CBD, forcing council to engage members of the Bulawayo Waste Management Truckers Association to supplement its refuse collection operations.

Councillors said illegal dumping was more than an eyesore, arguing that it was placing an unnecessary burden on council resources that were already under strain.

They called for the eradication of illegal dumpsites and an increase in the number of community sweepers across the city.

Councillors also stressed the need for stronger enforcement of anti-littering and illegal dumping by-laws, citing Ward 18 as an example of what could be achieved through effective policing and community involvement.

Illegal dumping in the ward has reportedly declined significantly following enforcement efforts involving residents.

Councillors urged other wards to adopt the Ward 18 approach while also calling for the reintroduction or expansion of designated legal dumpsites in residential areas.

They noted that council had previously identified and marked pieces of land where residents could dispose of waste, after which council's plant and equipment would be deployed to clear the refuse.

However, councillors said the continued expansion of the city had resulted in increased waste generation, making it necessary to increase the number of community sweepers in line with the expanded ward boundaries.

They also expressed concern that the shortage of refuse collection vehicles was hampering service delivery and contributing to the accumulation of waste in residential areas.

The latest push comes as the local authority seeks to improve waste management and prevent the proliferation of illegal dumpsites, which councillors warned could undermine broader efforts to restore cleanliness and improve environmental conditions across Bulawayo.