The City of Cape Town’s Urban Waste Management Public Awareness, Communication and Education team, in collaboration with the staff at Wolfgat Nature Reserve, have taken proactive steps towards improved community health by organising an eye-opening tour of the Kraaifontein Integrated Waste Management Facility for members of the Tafelsig community.
Situated on the boundary of the Wolfgat Nature Reserve, this community faces the challenge of illegal dumping in the adjacent firebreak, posing risks not only to the environment but also to the health and safety of residents. Recognising the importance of community engagement in waste management efforts, the staff at the reserve have been diligently educating the community about the impacts of dumping and the importance of responsible waste disposal.
As part of these ongoing efforts, the Urban Waste Management Public Awareness, Communication, and Education team was enlisted to further educate and empower the residents, and as such organised a tour of the Kraaifontein Integrated Waste Management Facility. This tour was designed to provide residents with first-hand insight into the extensive measures taken by the City to prevent waste from entering the environment.
During the tour, residents were enlightened about various aspects of waste management, to inspire mobilisation towards behaviour change. Residents gained a deeper understanding of the detrimental effects of waste on the environment and community health and were made aware that removing waste from illegal dump sites is significantly more expensive to the ratepayer than regular waste collection from 240l wheelie bins, due to more intensive equipment and staff requirements.
Residents were also shown the scale of recycling operations to highlight the value of waste and inspire the community to establish or participate in recycling programmes. Finally, residents were encouraged to take action through community-driven clean-up initiatives and were educated on how to report instances of illegal dumping to the authorities.
‘The tour provided valuable insights that can help the community feel empowered and inspired to actively participate in waste management efforts. I hope those that attended can see that if the community and City work together in the right way we can make a big difference, creating cleaner, safer areas and a brighter future for our children,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Waste Management, Alderman Grant Twigg.
Communities that are struggling with illegal dumping are encouraged to report those responsible on the channels below. Please try to include photos of the vehicle’s licence plate or people involved as this will help obtain a conviction and fine the perpetrators:
