The impasse over the uncollected black refuse bags in Phoenix, by Durban Solid Waste (DSW) over the past two weeks has been resolved. Councillor Maggie Johnson said: “The unions had to agree to Council’s terms. The impasse has been resolved. DSW employees started working on Friday and were expected to complete the backlog over the weekend.” According to reports, workers were on a ‘go slow’ due to unresolved overtime issues at the Phoenix depot.
Over the past two weeks, residents were frustrated over the uncollected black refuse bags lining the pavements, that were attracting flies and rodents.
Speaking to The Phoenix Tabloid, Redfern resident, Vijay Pillay, said service delivery in Phoenix was a major problem in general. “It is not fair for people who pay rates and utilities every month. Refuse had piled up on pavements. Phoenix is an eyesore at times. The Department is not doing us a favour by collecting the bin bags every week, we pay for these services and shouldn’t have to be subjected to such.”
Ward 51 Councillor Maggie Johnson said after receiving calls from residents regarding the issue, she met with officials from the department. “I met with the operations, sales and education senior management at Springfield Park to address a number of issues pertaining to waste management in Phoenix. Some of the items discussed were the distribution and collection of the bin bags, the Caneside Transfer Station, street sweeping, illegal dumping and recycling initiative and vigorous educational programmes,” said Cllr Johnson.
She said that the second week of the illegal “Go Slow” strike by DSW employees had resulted in non-collection of the black bags in the different wards in Phoenix. “Contingency plans for outside assistance had been foiled because of threats of violence. The council and the unions were at loggerheads and had gone back to the negotiating table,” said Cllr Johnson.
Johnson said Phoenix was the second largest region after uMlazi with still a huge potential for residential and business development. “Currently Solid Waste is servicing between 43 000 to 44 000 households in Phoenix, that is not counting the number of businesses that have mushroomed at every street corner. About 1650 bundles of the black bin bags have been distributed over the past few weeks with 350 bundles still outstanding and is awaiting the SCM processes to be finalised. The distribution of the orange bags has been halted as more education was required. These bags are contaminated with garden and domestic refuse instead of recyclables,” added Cllr Johnson.
On Monday, uncollected black refuse bags were still seen lining the pavements in Phoenix.
