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Ladies Mile drop-off facility to close at the end of September

ladies_mile_depotThe City of Cape Town would like to advise residents that the Ladies Mile drop-off facility will be closing permanently on 30 September 2015. This is to make way for a successful land restitution claim, and the land is to be handed to the Regional Land Claims Commissioner.

Residents in the area can make use of the nearby Retreat, Wynberg, or Hout Bay drop-off facilities, or the Coastal Park landfill site in Zeekoeivlei after this date.

Once closed, decommissioning of the site will begin in strict adherence to the closure license. An environmental consultant will perform tests on and assessments of the site, after which they will advise as to what will be required to rehabilitate the land which occupies an area of roughly a hectare. Based on the requirements laid out by the environmental consultants, the City will look to appoint a contractor to perform the rehabilitation. The environmental consultant will be appointed within a few months and it is envisaged that their assessment and recommendations will be complete by February or March next year. Thereafter, the rehabilitation contractor will be appointed and rehabilitation is expected to be completed before the end of 2016.
‘For 40 years, the land has been put to use in various ways. In its current incarnation as a drop-off facility, over the past five years, the site has provided residents with a facility that allows them to practice safe and legal waste management,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Utility Services, Councillor Ernest Sonnenberg.

Ladies Mile staff will be redeployed to assist at the Wynberg and Hout Bay facilities as we are anticipating increased demand at these facilities for the period following the closure and until such time as a replacement site is secured.

‘We have the capacity at the other sites to absorb the initial transfer of goods from Ladies Mile for the moment. We are, however, looking at other sites in the area to replace it. The Retreat facility is currently in the process of being expanded and we are also applying to develop a site on Prince George Drive.

‘We appeal to residents to continue their responsible habits in making use of other existing drop-off facilities, as they have done with Ladies Mile. These sites form a crucial part of the infrastructure network that allows for safe, legal and effective waste management,’ said Councillor Sonnenberg.

Because drop-off facilities accept a variety of waste materials that are not appropriate for disposal in a standard household refuse wheelie bin, they should eliminate any cause for residents to dump waste illegally.

‘We appreciate that this change will present a period of inconvenience and ask that residents please bear with us during the period of decommissioning,’ said Councillor Sonnenberg.

Residents will be advised of the closure by means of leaflets distributed at the facility, a banner on site, and notices placed in local newspapers.

The Hout Bay, Wynberg, and Retreat facilities all accept motor oil, garage waste, builders’ rubble, clean garden waste, paper and cardboard, Tetrapak, cans and metal, glass bottles, plastic, polystyrene, and E-Waste (electronic waste). Coastal Park accepts all of the above, except E-Waste.

Media enquiries: Councillor Ernest Sonnenberg, Mayoral Committee Member for Utility Services, City of Cape Town, Tel: 021 400 1303 or Cell: 083 261 9105, E-mail: ernest.sonnenberg@capetown.gov.za

Issued by: Media Office, City of Cape Town