24 Jan 2013

Kgatleng District Council has outsourced refuse collection service on a medium scale In an effort to improve efficiency.

The initiative is geared at harnesing community participation in refuse collection by engaging citizen contractors residing in council wards.

The council's principal public relations officer, Ms Thato Chwaane, said outsourced refuse collection services currently covered Mochudi, Rasesa, Morwa, Bokaa, Pilane, Matebele, Oodi, Mabalane and Sikwane on a medium scale.

She said in areas where it would not be economically viable to send a refuse truck, the council had engaged small contractors who used donkey carts.

She said donkey carts were used in Mmathubudukwane, Malolwane, Ramonaka, Ramotlabaki, Dikgonnye, Artesia, Leshibitse and Kgomodiatshaba.

She noted that the council would continue to provide refuse collection in areas not covered by private contractors. In such places, efforts would be made to ensure refuse collection once a week. "However, due to frequent breakdown of refuse trucks that may not always be possible," she said.

Ms Chwaane said the council took a deliberate decision to remove refuse bins from bus stops because some people were abusing them.

She added that charges for refuse collection were P10 per month or P120 per year. She added that the 'Own a Bin' operation whereby they promoted ownership of bins at household level continued in the district.

“For P150 you receive a bin and free collection for a year, while P200 will give you a bin and two years of free collection.”

Ms Chwaane said the response to the initiative was good. ENDS