Frustration looms as uncollected refuse piles up
Greg Bishop, of Bardene, writes:
In regarded to the metro switching from black plastic bags to wheelie beans, I still sit with a huge problem of refuse not being collected for two weeks, because I was unaware that I needed more than one bin.
On June 15, at approximately 10.15am, I noticed the refuse truck in the area.
I approached the driver to ask why my refuse had not been collected over the past two weeks (therefore, my black bags were not in the bin but also accumulating on the outside).
He was very polite and explained the new policy to me, in that that they collect only the black bins and that one needs more than one bin if you have more than 240l of refuse.
As the road has recently been closed off, I asked the driver if they would collect my bin for the second time on their return, as I could not fit all the refuse in the bin the first time.
I also asked if it was alright if I used my neighbours bin for whatever bags were left in terms of refuse. The driver confirmed that this would be in order.
On the truck’s return, the driver stopped as promised, but the collectors refused to get off the truck to load the bins I had filled for the second time – my own and my neighbour’s.
There were approximately seven of them in the truck. They appeared to intimidate the driver to leave, which he duly did, thus leaving my rubbish that was packed in black bins behind.
I find this behaviour completely unacceptable, as I was unaware of the policy of needing more bins if you have more than the refuse allowed.
Now that I am informed, I am willing to comply, but at the time I found the arrogance by the collectors completely unacceptable.
I now sit with rubbish accumulated over three weeks, but I do not even own a trailer or bakkie to take it to the dump.
I, therefore, request that the metro collect my refuse, as I need reasonable time to collect new bins. After all, I need to arrange transport and be given full credit of this month’s refuse fee.
For me, the communication in regard to this policy is poor from the metro and the reluctance to merely assist is nothing short of shocking.
Our neighbour, who is aware of the policy, had a box on top of his rubbish bin, but they categorically refused to collect it.
I have also seen my neighbours waiting around until the bins are collected, to prevent them being stolen. How then does someone look after the bins if you are working full time?
I also wonder, since the bins are the property of the council, are we allowed to mark them or will this been seen as damage to council property?
I have also noticed that the people who are trying to make a living through recycling are removing bags from the bins and not putting them back into the bins, which are subsequently not collected. How then do we deal with this when we’re not at home?
I also want to know from the metro if I can stop my refuse fee charged and arrange for private collections.
* Ekurhuleni Metro had not yet commented at the time of going to press.
Also read:
Extra wheelie bins required when using more than 240l of refuse
