City working hard to restore normal refuse collection services | City working hard to restore normal refuse collection services | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/Recycling%20guide%20for%20households%20Header.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | <p>The City of Cape Town’s refuse collection services should see steady, progressive improvement over the next three weeks.</p> | <p>Disruptions to refuse removal times and subsequent backlogs have been experienced as a result of revised procedures to audit and governance processes that came into effect from 24 January 2020. This is affecting repairs to vehicles and infrastructure throughout the municipality. However, this is primarily being felt in the Solid Waste Collections service due to the high demands placed on vehicles in the service and the associated intensive maintenance programmes that are required to keep the service working normally. </p><p>Various City departments have worked day and night to finalise 709 purchase orders for the servicing of its 211 refuse vehicles in line with the new audit requirements and to continue the refuse service as best as possible, including timeously clearing backlogs. Suppliers are also being requested to speed up repairs and maintenance of vehicles to get them back on the road again. Where applicable, senior staff in the Solid Waste service has also been recalled from leave to ensure contingencies, such as redistribution of vehicles to worse-affected areas, are in place to minimise the impact on residents while the backlog of vehicle repairs is being tackled. </p><p>Furthermore, the City is engaging with contractors to attempt to mobilise any additional capacity they may have available, and are increasing oversight in the service to ensure contingencies operate as designed. </p><p>‘We have worked hard to ensure that the revised procedures do not have an indefinite negative impact on service delivery. City financial experts have developed ways to speed up the procurement process in a manner that is compliant with the new audit and governance requirements while at the same time, together with our Solid Waste Department, everyone has done their utmost to ensure that the impact on services is minimised wherever humanly possible. We know that our residents are proud of our reliable refuse collection services and of the City’s sound governance. Our commitment to top service delivery remains strong,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Finance, Alderman Ian Neilson. </p><p>Residents are advised that from Monday, 16 March 2020, a new service schedule will be implemented which will mean that refuse collection should not be delayed by more than one day. In other words, if a resident’s refuse is not collected, it should be collected the next day.</p><p>‘Residents throughout the City should please bring their bins out by 07:00 in the morning, and leave them outside until 21:00 until collected. The City’s Solid Waste teams will continue to also work on weekends to clear any backlog which still exists. </p><p>‘Excess refuse that cannot fit in the wheelie bins will also be collected until this problem is resolved. Residents are also implored not to resort to illegal dumping if collection delays cause refuse to build-up to the point where it cannot fit in the wheelie bins. </p><p>‘The City apologises for this inconvenience. We want to thank our residents for their patience during this time while every effort is being made to restore normal services,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Waste, Alderman Xanthea Limberg. </p><p><br><strong>End</strong></p> | 2020-03-12T22:00:00Z | GP0|#1d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70;L0|#01d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70|City news;GTSet|#62efe227-07aa-45e7-944c-ceebacca891d | | | | | GP0|#a56018a2-0c7a-4055-af9c-df4728adb384;L0|#0a56018a2-0c7a-4055-af9c-df4728adb384|water and waste;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb;GP0|#616d06d3-df1e-4f8f-8f3f-46854851d694;L0|#0616d06d3-df1e-4f8f-8f3f-46854851d694|Finance;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb;GP0|#5ed7348c-40fe-4cb8-8ddd-17a2be93564d;L0|#05ed7348c-40fe-4cb8-8ddd-17a2be93564d|refuse;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |