The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) will resume nighttime refuse collection in the Central Business District (CBD) on Monday next week in an effort to keep the streets clean.
This development comes after BCC met with stakeholders last week to review the city’s Local Environmental Action Plan (LEAP) in an effort to reduce the negative effects of pollution and littering while implementing policies that will encourage businesses and residents to act in an environmentally friendly manner.
Litter, waste, and uncollected garbage have become an eyesore in the CBD, and the stench in sanitary lanes has become unbearable for residents who must navigate their way past the garbage heaps.
The announcement was made by Bulawayo Town Clerk Christopher Dube, who urged property owners to ensure that refuse collection crews have access to their waste.
“The City of Bulawayo would like to advise its valued clients that it would be commencing night time refuse collection in the Central Business District with effect from Monday, November 21, 2022. The collection will be done from 8pm until 6am as indicated in the schedule,” he said.
The town clerk said if for any reason, refuse is not collected on the scheduled day, residents were advised to keep the waste within their properties for collection the next day.
“The collection will be done on the next scheduled day hence they should keep the bins within their properties and not dump,” Dube said, adding property owners were also encouraged to make sure that refuse collection crews access refuse during this period.
“Where necessary, property owners can contact the City of Bulawayo Cleansing Section on (029) 2265532 or (029) 2272569 during the day to make arrangements on accessibility of refuse bins at night. Properties that are not accessible will not have their refuse collected and the owners might be required to take the refuse to the disposal site at their own cost.”
Dube stated that additionally property owners in the CBD are reminded that by-law they are required to have refuse receptacles.
“Refuse should be placed in bins or plastic receptacles and kept in a tidy state ready for collection by council. Failure to adhere to this might lead to the property owners being prosecuted,” the town clerk said.
“For any assistance or enquiries on the night time collection, kindly contact the Cleansing Section on 029 226 5532 or 092 2272569 from 8am to 5pm. The Customer Contact Centre on 029 2271290 0292 71717- 9 from 5pm to 8am.”
