ADENDORP NEWS - Residents are up in arms over the constant burning of plastic from cables at the municipal dump. According to them, it violates the constitutional right of every person to live in an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being.

One such frustrated resident, Desiré Minter, has voiced her concerns, fears and complaints to the advised channels at the DBNLM and has also written to the Graaff-Reinet Advertiser to state her case. 

Minter says with Adendorp a mere 5 to 7km away from the municipal dump/landfill site, residents are in the direct path of the toxic smoke if the wind blows from the south west. 

Besides the terrible smell that forces them indoors, they have to close all their windows and doors. Furthermore, the smoke is extremely damaging to their health. "I am not the only resident who has complained. Many nights we wake up choking on the smoke.

"As tax-paying, law-abiding residents who recycle, pick up litter and show consideration to our neighbours, we have appealed to the people who receive our money each month to take action to not only protect our health but also prevent the ruining of our town, making it unattractive for tourists and unpleasant to live in," she said.

Minter says she has spoken to one of the supervisors on numerous occasions and also relayed these complaints and concerns to her ward councillor. According to her, she was told that the staff fear for their lives to stop the people burning the plastic at night.

"They say there is no burning taking place by the municipality to make space or dispose of waste at the dump and that the burning is done by people entering the dump. I have also called out the police and fire department several times in extreme cases.

"Every Friday, on refuse collection day, we have to guard our rubbish bags from the people/children who pick up our bags and tear them open in the veld. They are littering our previously pristine neighbourhood and it's infuriating! This has been going on for over a year now without the municipality bringing strong action to prevent and reverse the damage."

But their frustrations could soon be something of the past if the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality (DBNLM) delivers on its promises.

Response from municipality

In response to a media enquiry, Municipal Manager, Dr Edward Rankwana, said that they are aware of the inconvenience caused by the illegal burning at the landfill site.

"This is a problem that has been going on for years and it is agreed that burning on the landfill site must be stopped. The lives of staff and the security guards are indeed being threatened when they endeavour to put out the fires or approach the perpetrators and the police get called in without any success. 

"The law enforcement unit of the municipality has insufficient capacity to enforce by-laws and 20 trainee law enforcement officers will be appointed with sufficient infrastructure and trained within the first two months of the new financial year (July/August 2021).

"The entire landfill site must be upgraded, which will include removing of the squatters from the premises and proper fencing to keep transgressors out," Rankwana said. Unfortunately, according to Rankwana, in terms of the Covid-19 regulations, the squatters cannot be removed during lockdown.

"Before the squatters are removed, the municipality is fighting a losing battle in this regard. Funding is required for the required upgrades and that is the only reason why the situation has not been addressed already. 

"The transfer station also requires upgrading and, should this facility function properly, plastics will be removed from refuse going to the landfill site, which will also contribute towards fewer plastics that can be burned on the landfill site. The municipality is currently facing serious financial challenges and funding needs to be sourced for the upgrades mentioned above."

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