The City of Cape Town’s Solid Waste Management Department has taken a decision to close its Tygerdal Drop-off site, which is situated between Oranje Street and the railway line (next to the station).

The City commissioned studies into the traffic, noise and dust impact generated by activities on the site, following complaints from members of the public. As a result of the findings of these studies, and in line with the City’s policy to make optimum use of public transport, it was decided not to perpetuate the use of the land next to a railway station for drop-off purposes, but rather to close it down and release the land for more appropriate use.

It needs to be understood that the closure of the site cannot happen overnight. A new site must be found and the necessary consultation processes followed. The need to chip garden refuse in the interim and the fact that a new site would still need to be established means that the activities at Tygerdal will have to continue for some time.

In the interim, steps will be taken to mitigate nuisance factors. This will include limiting the operation of the chipper to weekdays and to specific limited hours of the day; damping the dust; rehabilitating the building which houses the chipper; and raising the boundary wall.

The local Ward Councillor for the area, Councillor Sakkie Pretorius, welcomed this decision, after he had persistently conveyed the frustrations of residents regarding the site. A public meeting will be held after the school holidays where the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Utility Services, Councillor Shehaam Sims; Councillor Pretorius; and senior officials will inform residents of plans and the anticipated timescales.

Drop-off sites play a crucial role in waste management in the city, especially in curbing illegal dumping. The City maintains 24 of these sites throughout Cape Town to ensure that all residents are in reasonably close proximity to a drop-off site.

A list of these drop-off sites can be found here.