Wheelie bin replacement drives strengthen waste services
14 November 2025
An Urban Waste Management initiative to replace lost or stolen wheelie bins is helping to curb illegal dumping.
The City of Cape Town's Urban Waste Management Directorate has conducted several dedicated wheelie bin replacement drives since the start of the 2025/26 financial year.
When prioritising areas for bin replacement, the City considers several indicators – including a sudden drop in the volume of waste collected from wheelie bins, which may signal an increase in missing bins. Such analysis is necessary due to under-reporting in certain communities.
These drives help to ensure cleaner neighbourhoods and reduce incidents of illegal dumping. The following communities have benefitted so far:- Fisantekraal
- Delft
- Belhar
- Kreefgat
- Charlesville
- Montevideo
- Clarke Estate
- Adriaanse
- Eureka Estate
- Uitsig
- Nuwe Uitsig
These operations form part of the City's ongoing efforts to maintain effective waste collection services, particularly in communities where damaged or stolen wheelie bins pose a challenge. When households do not have an adequate container for refuse, dumping in public spaces often increases, leading to resource-intensive clean-ups that tie up staff and strain budgets.
For the remainder of the current financial year, the following suburbs within the Tygerberg area have been prioritised for wheelie bin replacement drives:
- Epping Forest: 15-16 November 2025
- De Range: 22-23 November 2025
- Bellville South: 1-2 February 2026
- Delft:7-8, 14-15, 21-22 February, 28 February-1 March, 7-8 March, 14-15 March 2026 (Due to exceptionally high bin losses/thefts)
- Morning Star: 21-22, 28-29 March, 4-5 April 2026
The City's Public Awareness, Communication and Education teams, and ward councillors are informing residents of the bin replacement drives before the time. Please keep an eye on community forums/groups to ensure you do not miss out.
Residents are urged not to wait for replacement drives as these are not the primary way to obtain a new bin. Lost, stolen, or damaged bins should be reported immediately to prevent refuse being placed on open ground, where it can quickly lead to illegal dumping hotspots and associated environmental health risks.
Residents can apply for a replacement bin by following instructions at the link below, or via the City's app (https://apple.co/3iPP07o, https://bit.ly/CCTApp-Android): www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Apply/Municipal-services/solid-waste/Apply-for-a-new-wheelie-bin-for-domestic-properties
Prompt reporting helps the City track trends, respond faster, and reduce the risk of refuse accumulating on pavements or in public spaces. Please report for the sake of your community's health.
'Ensuring that households have proper refuse bins helps us deliver waste collection more efficiently and prevents waste from ending up in the environment. Replacement drives help stabilise bin distribution in hotspot areas, but we need residents to report lost or damaged bins as soon as possible – not wait for a scheduled drive. 'These drives make a meaningful difference in communities where bins are frequently stolen or damaged, but they cannot replace individual reporting. When a bin goes missing, refuse often ends up on the ground, attracting dumping and placing unnecessary strain on our cleansing teams. I encourage every resident to report missing or broken bins immediately so we can act quickly and prevent further mess. A clean city is something we build together,' said Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Waste Management, Alderman Grant Twigg.
END
Published by:
Media Office, City of Cape Town
