Mitchells Plain businesses invest in Town Centre clean-up

7 March 2016

The City of Cape Town’s Solid Waste Management Department has issued over 420 wheelie bins to businesses in the Mitchells Plain central business district (CBD) in a bid to prevent illegal dumping and contribute to a cleaner environment.

The initiative was the brainchild of Subcouncil 12, who highlighted issues related to waste removal in the area including complaints of illegal dumping in the Mitchells Plain CBD, concerns of businesses having insufficient refuse bins, and non-compliance with the Integrated Waste Management By-law. The Subcouncil called on the Solid Waste Management Department to start a bin compliance project in the CBD, after liaising with the community and businesses.

Property owners are responsible for ensuring that there is a refuse removal service on their premises. As not all property owners were compliant, the CBD was identified as a key area in which to implement the project.

Action Plan

A detailed plan of action directed the campaign, which included the following:

Dividing the Mitchells Plain CBD into eight blocks
Visiting all of the businesses and handing over letters informing shop and property owners of the project
Evaluating how much refuse is generated at each shop; determining how many bins are needed; and the frequency of the removals
Engaging with customers on a daily basis
Engaging with shop owners to take responsibility for the area around them to prevent illegal dumping

The project team included officials from the Solid Waste Management Department, operational staff and health inspectors as well Law Enforcement officers stationed at the Town Centre. A total of 422 bins were issued to businesses in the Mitchells Plain CBD. These innovative new bins are made from recycled materials and recently won the South African Plastics Organisation award for Best Recycled Product of the Year.

‘This project is an example of how businesses can work together with the City and contribute towards a clean environment, thereby making progress possible. The Subcouncil will closely monitor the area and ensure that businesses remain compliant,’ said subcouncil 12 Chairperson, Councillor Eddie Andrews.

Support from the community a key to success

Businesses that were compliant assisted City officials in persuading others to buy in to the advantages of keeping the environment clean.

‘I’m very pleased with this development in the Mitchells Plain CBD and look forward to seeing a reduction in illegal dumping as businesses equip themselves with the appropriate measures to cope with the waste that is produced.

'Congratulations to Subcouncil 12, the Solid Waste Management Department, and the Mitchells Plain business community as a whole. This is exactly the kind of team effort between the City and the community that can bring about real change. I look forward to visiting the CBD in the next few weeks to see the clean results of this project,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Utility Services, Councillor Ernest Sonnenberg.

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