Virus at depots delays refuse collections in several suburbs

Gardens, Green Point, Mouille Point, Oranjezicht and Sea Point were among the areas affected by refuse collection delays.

Gardens, Green Point, Mouille Point, Oranjezicht and Sea Point were among the areas affected by refuse collection delays this week.

This follows the temporary closure for decontamination, after a staff member of the Woodstock Collections Depot tested positive for Covid-19.

The City said where there are refuse collection delays, excess waste that cannot fit in the wheelie bins can be bagged and placed next to the bin for removal.

They said contingency measures to address the delays in service are under way and urged residents not to resort to illegal dumping if delays cause refusal to build-up to the point where it cannot fit in the wheelie bins.

The City said residents should understand that once depots have been decontaminated and reopened, staff availability may remain a challenge.

Those who have been in close contact with a confirmed infection are required to self-quarantine for 14 days, even in the absence of symptoms, to minimise the risk that they could unknowingly spread the virus.

The matter has been ongoing in different parts of the city with residents complaining that the delays cause mess on the streets and attract opportunists and vagrants.

The City said they are doing all they can to protect the health of staff while also sustaining service delivery with the resources available.

“However, even with the assistance of contractors and deployment of staff from other areas, it is sometimes not possible to collect refuse throughout the city on the scheduled collection days,” they said.

They said the increased load, or volumes of waste, being collected exacerbates the delays due to trucks needing to make more frequent trips to landfill sites to offload before returning to their beats. It may also lead to more frequent breakdown of the vehicles.

“We acknowledge the inconvenience of disruption and constraints to normal services, but we need to prioritise the well-being of staff during this volatile period, while ensuring the service continues at the highest possible level.”