Chatsworth activist starts clean-up project to stop illegal dumping

Activists from Chatsworth, south of Durban, say illegal dumping is continuing unabated despite the best efforts of some community members trying to keep streets and parks clean.

Resident and activist, Kay Govender, who started the “Chatsworth Community Projects” group in which residents get together to clean the streets, says the situation is getting worse.

Govender says it’s sad that residents dispose of refuse and unwanted items in parks and on pathways, releasing foul odours and hindering access for children and others to utilise on a daily basis.

“We definitely have a major problem regarding dumping in our community. I think residents must be more responsible. Bin bags must be left out in front of the home in the morning of collection by Durban Solid Waste (DSW), so DSW can pick them up and not across the road or in isolated areas. In Chatsworth, we have so many uncapped pathways and that’s become a major issue because kids use this as a thoroughfare to go to school.”

Govender adds: “We definitely have a problem regarding litter and dumping of debris, old sofas, a whole lot of things. This can be easy if residents say, ‘you know what, let’s stop this bad habit’.”