The City of Johannesburg’s Department of Public Safety recently tabled a report to Council asking for an increase in impound fees for first time illegal dumping offenders.

The proposed amendment will see the impound fee rise from R 2 970 to R 10 000 for a first time offender, R 15 000 for a second offender and a hefty R 20 000 for a third time offender. The Department also proposed that after the third offence, the vehicle used in any illegal dumping be forfeited to the state.

A growing issue

With illegal dumping fast becoming a problem for the City of Johannesburg, Michael Sun MMC for Public Safety says the City hopes the new tariffs will discourage the practice.

“Many illegal dumpers operate lucrative businesses by collecting refuse, rubble and even toxic waste to dump in parks, roadside, open spaces and rivers,” he explains.

“While Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department’s (JMPD) efforts such as the Anti-illegal Dumping Hotline and the Anti-illegal Dumping Undercover Unit are yielding positive results, there are still daily occurrences of illegal dumping across the City,” he adds.

“Hit them where it hurts”

In the month of January, eight trucks were impounded for offences relating to illegal dumping and Sun notes that they receive daily reports of illegal dumping ranging from residents dumping trash outside their premises to shop owners disposing commercial refuse on non-collection days and industrial refuse being dumped openly.

“We need to hit the law breakers where it hurts most. Currently the impound fee is R 2 970 which does not serve as a serious deterrent for operators whom charge up to R 2 000 per load.

“As the City, we must work together to ensure that such illegality are stopped. We urge residents to support us in our effort to curb illegal dumping in the City by reporting these unlawful activities to 082 719 1361,”he concludes.

The report was approved in council and will be published for public comments.