GEORGE NEWS - George Municipality had some great successes with the cleaning up of illegal dumping hotspots in and around George and beautifying these areas by creating parks and gardens.
Several former illegal dumping sites have been maintained after the clean-up process, such as those in Rose Street in Pacaltsdorp, in Vuyani Ncamazana Street in Lawaaikamp, two spots in Tabata Street in Thembalethu, 32nd Street and Nelson Mandela Boulevard.
Unfortunately, after the Beer Street site in Rosemoor was beautified, everything, including plants, tyres and ecobricks, were stolen from the site.
The manager of environmental services, Janine Fernold, said six coordinators have been appointed to lead cleansing teams and an additional 15 workers will be appointed in the near future to tackle illegal dumping and hotspots.
These teams will also be used to clean other illegal dumping sites that are not considered hotspots at this stage.
Adopt a spot
Georgians can now "adopt a spot", whereby applicants can "adopt" a piece of municipal-owned land to beautify and maintain it and increase its functionality for a specific time - at no cost to the municipality.
The public can apply to adopt public open spaces, private open spaces and nature reserves across a vast area in the municipal boundaries. The hope is also to establish and maintain a partnership between applicants and the municipality.
The programme has been approved by council and is applicable to all land zoned "Open Space" or "Undetermined".
The Adopt a Spot programme aims to overcome the challenges of ecological degradation, illegal land use, illegal dumping, criminal activities and lack of safety in public open spaces.
The public and all interested parties are invited to approach the municipality to adopt a piece of municipal-owned land for any of the purposes mentioned.
There is no cost to adopt a spot from the Municipality, but it is expected that the adopters will assist in the maintenance and upkeep of the site.
Download the application form here.
Enquiries or requests for more information on the process may be directed to Nosidima Vumindaba at nvumindaba@george.gov.za or on 044 802 2900 at the Parks and Recreation department.
A before photo of an illegal dumping spot on the corner of Nelson Mandela Boulevard and Gcakani Street being cleaned by cleansing staff.
Illegal dumping is everybody's problem
If you throw your junk just anywhere, it will eventually become your problem some way or another. It can make you sick or kill you.
What is illegal dumping?
• Illegal dumping is anything you throw away in a place where it does not belong.
• If you know who is dumping illegally, report them to 044 801 6350 or gmun@george.gov.za or 044 801 6300 (a/h).
• Information that will help the case for a warning or fine: car description and/or registration number, address of alleged perpetrator, type of waste and address of where it was dumped. A cellphone photo of dumping in action will help, but is not essential.
• Report dumped waste for collection on 044 802 2900 or 044 801 6300 (a/h).
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