The Insiza Rural District Council (IRDC) says it is intensifying efforts to manage rising volumes of solid waste in Filabusi town and surrounding rural service centres, despite facing significant equipment shortages.
The council’s Chief Executive Officer, Shepherd Tshuma, said the local authority had launched clean-up campaigns across most wards in partnership with members of the Rural District Development Committee.
“We have together with other RDDC members launched the clean-up exercise in almost every RSC of each ward,” he said. “The hope has been that once launched, the local councillor, extension workers, businesses and the community would remain active on both clean-up days and beyond. To our disappointment, only a couple of wards have taken that responsibility.”
The council says it is complying with the national monthly clean-up programme and conducts weekly refuse collection in high-volume areas. However, limited machinery has slowed operations.
Tshuma said the council’s five-cubic-metre cage trailer and tractor are too small to cope with the growing volume of waste. Although tipper trucks are used in busy areas, workers struggle to load them manually because of their height.
A shortage of refuse bins among households and businesses has also contributed to illegal dumping along roadsides, the council says.
As an interim measure, IRDC is repairing a UD Nissan truck to replace the tippers while it seeks funding for more suitable equipment.
The council has prioritised the purchase of a refuse compactor in its 2026 budget, with funding expected to come from devolution allocations. Mr Tshuma said the authority also hopes the government may donate a compactor, similar to previous assistance with a fire tender.
“We expect our government to assist us with a donated refuse compactor as they did with the fire tender,” he said. “We are currently repairing our UD Nissan truck to take over from tippers which are too difficult to load, while awaiting a refuse compactor.”
To improve waste disposal infrastructure, the council has acquired an excavator and identified new sites for improved dumps. Two sites have been cleared in Filabusi, near Bekezela shops and close to the cemetery at Annadale Farm, and will be excavated and fenced in line with guidance from the Environmental Management Agency.
The existing dumpsite near the magistrates’ courts will be decommissioned once the new sites are operational.
In rural service centres, the council has budgeted to establish five improved disposal sites under the current financial plan. It has also identified land for a planned landfill and says it will partner with Malinga Rise Housing Development under JR Goddard on the project.
Tshuma said the council had recently received 10 street drum bins donated by Jay Jay Hardware, a local business, and appealed for more companies to follow suit.
The donated bins will be placed at strategic points in the township.
The council also plans to roll out recently approved anti-litter and environmental by-laws aimed at strengthening enforcement. Under the new regulations, every waste generator will be required to have an appropriate receptacle for the amount of waste produced.