GRAAFF-REINET NEWS — Despite what should be a top-class waste disposal facility in Graaff-Reinet, complaints have arisen regarding problems with inefficient and disinterested staff, and disorganisation in general at the Waste Transfer Station located on the outskirts of Graaff-Reinet en route to Aberdeen.
Gerald Buisman of Graaff-Reinet related his experiences of a recent visit to drop off bags of garden refuse:
“Duly stopping at the Stop sign at the entrance, I waited. The security guard was comfortably seated and eating her lunch. There was no supervisor in the office.
"After a while, I decided to go ahead. I began to drive in the direction indicated for garden refuse by a notice. A helpful employee appeared and motioned me in another direction. Suddenly a bevvy of non-uniformed young men appeared. The bags were deposited into a skip which a front-end loader was filling with assorted waste: garden, cardboard, paper, plastic and household”.
"There are several obvious problems here, but despite numerous requests, no response has been forthcoming from the municipality. The system seems haphazard, with (at least in Buisman’s experience) no attempt to sort out the different types of waste for recycling. He recalled experiencing a moment of hope when the waste disposal unit was built and a new landfill dump established, that Graaff-Reinet was entering a new era of efficient and non-polluting waste disposal.
“Alas, we have landed up with even more haphazard and inefficient crisis management than before - witness the plastic bags blowing around in the road reserve and attached to the barbed wire fences. Several million rands of ratepayers’ money has seemingly been wasted, unless we can see a sudden turnaround of the present, unacceptable situation."
One of the questions raised by residents involves the training, or lack of training, of the refuse workers, as they appear not to know how to separate the different types of waste. Concern has also been expressed as to whether the workers have actually been educated as to the reasons for recycling, which might at least make them more aware of the importance of this.
No response has been received concerning the supervision of the facility –whether there is, in fact, a site foreman or person-in-charge who can supervise and sort out basic problems. Questions have been raised as to whether the responsible municipal official checks daily that the work is being done properly, and if the municipal manager and/or the head of Community Services (the municipal department under which waste disposal falls) make occasional, unannounced visits to check all is in order.
The problem of personal safety and security has also come to the fore, and two young women who were harassed on a recent visit also related their experience to the Advertiser. “We went to the waste disposal facility last week to drop off a load of rubbish when about ten people jumped on the bakkie unbidden and started to offload everything. These were adults, with small children among them. Security officials sat far away, not bothered at all.”
As the ladies were ready to drive away, the children went right up to the bakkie’s window to ask for money. “When we said we didn’t have any, they threatened us, saying that they now know what the bakkie looks like, and they would ‘get us’” the traumatised women said. They said they felt vulnerable, and would not feel safe going back again on their own.
A plea was made by Buisman, which is echoed by many in communities all over the country, for the municipality to educate the public as to littering and waste dumping by means of ward meetings, visits to churches, clinics and schools, posters, flyers and by encouraging their employees to spread information.
“Please no more lame excuses about lack of funds, the problems of amalgamation of municipalities, etc. We have the facilities already, we have the staff, we have management officials. All we need now is will power, imagination and zeal. I wonder if we, as loyal citizens of Graaff-Reinet, would be falsely optimistic in hoping for an improvement in the near future?” he concluded.
• The Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality declined to comment on the matter.
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