City urges residents to support community clean-ups
22 October 2024
As part of the annual #SpringCleanCT campaign, the City of Cape Town’s Urban Waste Management Directorate is encouraging residents to team up with the City in the fight against illegal dumping. Residents can play their part by organising or participating in community clean-up events. The City can support these community clean-ups with provision of high-quality refuse bags, and the removal of bagged waste.
The City is playing it’s part during the campaign, with intensive cleansing operations throughout the city.
In total 1 000 bags (19 tons) of litter and dumping have been removed by the City so far.
The City’s annual #SpringCleanCT campaign was conceived out of an urgent need to take back our communities from people who litter and dump waste illegally. The City already spends well over R100 million each year to remove illegal dumping and litter from the environment, so it is becoming increasingly important to work together to prevent litter and dumping before it happens.
For communities to enjoy cleaner spaces, it is key for community members to hold each other accountable to dispose of waste correctly and report those who litter and dump so that the City can take action against them. Communities that are invested in the cleanliness of their areas enjoy the cleanest environments. Unfortunately in many cases dumping goes unreported.
One of the ways to get communities invested in their areas is through clean-up efforts where they can participate. Residents are more likely to resist any urge to litter or report littering and dumping to the authorities if they have invested their time and energy into keeping their area clean.
In recognition of this reality, the City has created a mechanism to support community-driven clean-up events. Anyone mobilising community members to clean up their environment can request provision of high quality refuse bags to use during the clean-up, and the removal of bagged waste to landfills after the event.
‘If there are any environmentally-conscious residents or organisations out there who would like to help change the culture around dumping in Cape Town, organising a clean-up event is a great way you can make a difference. If you can get your peers invested in the environment, they start to report those who dump illegally, then fines can be applied and those who dump will be forced to use the easy and convenient options the City provides for waste disposal. This is how we take back our areas. ‘Last financial year the City received 160 applications for assistance with community clean-ups, and I am hopeful we can at least match this figure in 2024/25,’ said Mayoral Committee for Urban Waste Management, Alderman Grant Twigg.
If you are interested in this support please consult the relevant guidelines and disclaimers, and then fill out and submit the application form.
Please note that the provision of bags and assistance with waste removal opportunities should not be misconstrued as a promise of employment in the future. It remains a voluntary action.
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Published by:
Media Office, City of Cape Town
