Asimile Siyaqhuba - Five Years of Advancing Clean, Sustainable, and Resilient Communities

 

Waste Management Directorate: Five Years of Advancing Clean, Sustainable, and Resilient Communities

Over the past five years, the Waste Management Directorate has made significant strides in delivering efficient, reliable and sustainable waste management services across the City. Highlighting these gains is eThekwini’s Five-Year Service Delivery Milestones campaign being rolled out under the theme: Asimile Siyaqhuba: Resilience Through Adversity.

The campaign highlights the gains made in ensuring efficient and effective service delivery during the 2021 to 2026 term of office.

As the leading provider of comprehensive waste solutions, the Waste Management Directorate operates an extensive network comprising of 32 depots, six transfer stations, four landfill sites, 22 garden sites with selected public recycling drop-offs, two landfill gas projects, and three leachate treatment plants. This robust infrastructure enables the delivery of essential services to residential, industrial, and commercial customers.

The directorate has consistently provided weekly refuse collection services to over one million households, meeting key service delivery objectives while maintaining high standards of cleanliness. City streets are serviced daily, with the central business district cleaned up to three times per day, supported by high-pressure washing and mechanical sweeping operations. Recognising the unique challenges within informal settlements, the directorate has worked closely with contractors to ensure weekly collection and street sweeping services in these areas.

Illegal dumping continues to pose challenges; however, it is being addressed proactively through the Illegal Dumping Eradication Programme. This programme is implemented through co-ordinated joint operations and dedicated enforcement efforts. In many instances, the City has partnered with stakeholders such as Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa to rehabilitate affected sites through environmental restoration initiatives, including tree planting, thereby enhancing environmental integrity and community wellbeing.

Over the past five years, substantial volumes of waste have been collected annually, contributing to cleaner, healthier, and safer urban spaces. Continuous operational improvements and strengthened regional co-ordination have further enhanced service delivery across all areas of the City.

Beyond waste collection, the directorate has prioritised environmental education and meaningful community engagement. Programmes such as the Back-to-School initiative and the introduction of “Nono,” the City’s waste awareness mascot, have encouraged learners to adopt responsible waste practices from an early age. Public awareness campaigns, including #BinIt, have further promoted proper waste management and sustainability, fostering a culture of environmental responsibility within communities.

Sustainability remains central to the directorate’s mission. Recycling programmes and waste diversion initiatives form the foundation of the directorate’s transition towards a more circular waste economy. Concerted efforts have been made to reduce the volume of waste sent to landfill, supporting broader environmental and climate objectives. E-waste and bulk waste drives have provided residents with safe and environmentally compliant disposal options for electronic and bulky household items. These initiatives have helped curb illegal dumping, promote recycling and resource recovery, and advance the vision of a cleaner, healthier City for all residents.

The directorate also manages four strategically located landfill sites that collectively receive approximately 900 000 tonnes of general waste annually, ensuring environmentally responsible disposal and compliance with regulatory standards. Ongoing investment in infrastructure and technology has strengthened operational capacity, while maintaining strict adherence to environmental legislation and best practice standards.

Resource optimisation through route balancing and the implementation of fleet management best practices has enhanced operational resilience, improved fleet utilisation, and ensured service continuity across all service areas.

The directorate has also led numerous community engagement initiatives, school programmes, and clean-up campaigns aimed at promoting responsible waste management, environmental stewardship, and sustainable practices aligned with the National Waste Management Strategy.

The past five years have represented a period of strategic investment, operational enhancement, and unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability, service excellence, and community partnership.

A particularly encouraging development is the directorate’s recent participation in the Metro Trading Services Reform Programme, through which a comprehensive Turnaround Strategy has been developed. This strategy entrenches a long-term, integrated approach to substantially reduce waste, modernise collection systems, and reinvigorate the recycling sector.