Illegal dumping at Mabopane Station has been a problem for decades, and municipal efforts to reduce it are largely ineffective. In such an environment, there is a risk of physical harm to people; for instance, children can pick up sharp objects and be injured, or they may eat something harmful to their health.
A recent article in Tshwane Bulletin LIVE reported on illegal dumping sites at Mabopane Station Modal Interchange, located approximately 40 km from Pretoria CBD. There is a taxi rank situated nearby for the use of the Winterveldt and Mabopane communities, who shop at the busy Mabopane Central City Shopping Centre.
According to commuters, people throw away their waste illegally for many reasons. A lack of awareness of disposal options to not making the effort to drive to the local landfill or transfer station are some of the reasons.
“Each year, a large amount of waste is removed from unlawful dumping hot areas! That costs the city, and you as the taxpayer, astonishing millions of money per year just in clean-up.
“In other words, cleaning up illegal dumping costs 20 times as much as collecting litter from trash bins. To promote a clean, healthy, and safe environment, we take the responsibility of combatting illegal dumping very seriously.”
Also, commuters point out that authorities lack monitoring of violations or punish illegal dumpers with a simple slap on the wrist.
The findings from the team that surveyed the area, plastic makes up a high share of illegally discarded waste. and we are fully aware of the long-term repercussions.
“Instead of dumping everything, we separate the waste and recycle what we can. By sorting recyclables, we can help reduce waste in public areas and provide prospects for employment”
“Illegal dumping is a severe problem that puts our community at risk of injury and illness and pollutes our ecosystem. In addition, illegal dumpsites can serve as magnets for other criminal activities,” says Tshwane Bulletin, Publishing Editor.
“Improper disposal of harmful waste has serious consequences for the environment, economy, and communities”
“Dumpsites are known to attract wild animals, which can spread sickness and infections. Anyone who is near a dumpsite is at risk of getting sick due to the toxic chemicals that are discarded there, as well as the diseases that can spread through rats”, says the publishing editor.
Litter has harmful impacts on the environment. It can harm and kill animals by trapping, choking, strangling, and poisoning them, including domestic animals that consume plastics.
The Tshwane Metro Police Department routinely handles reports of illegal dumping. Non-profit organisations frequently fund community clean-up projects. If you’d like to help, many of these organizations work with the municipality to coordinate cleaning efforts.
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