You can make sure our city services work well. It's important to report issues like potholes, power cuts, water leaks, or fallen trees. Following up and taking more steps if needed can help fix these problems. Illegal dumping is a big issue that affects our communities, environment, and economy. It costs cities millions to clean up and can cause health and safety problems. By taking action, we can help create cleaner, safer neighbourhoods.

Steps to address illegal dumping

1. Recognise the problem:

   • Illegal dumping means throwing away waste and rubbish (like household trash, construction debris, and industrial waste) in places where it's not allowed.
   • This practice harms the environment, lowers property values, and can cause health problems.

2. Protect public health:

   • Dump sites attract pests that spread diseases.
   • Removing waste early helps stop these health problems.

3. Prevent flooding:

   • Litter can block drains, causing floods and damage to roads and buildings.
   • Regular waste collection and drain cleaning are essential, especially during rainy seasons.

4. Reduce plastic pollution:

   • A big part of illegally dumped waste is plastic.
   • Sorting and recycling waste helps the environment and creates jobs.

5. Protect property values:

   • Regular cleanups stop pests, blocked drains, and pollution, which can cause health problems and can lower property values.
   • Cleaner neighbourhoods are more attractive and safe and can increase property values by up to 57%.

6. Get involved:

   • Report illegal dumping to local authorities to make your community safer and cleaner.
   • Use the contact details to report incidents and help make your neighbourhood beautiful.
   • Organise with your community to solve the problem together. See links below on how to do this.

More information

For more details on how to fight illegal dumping, visit the City of Cape Town’s resources on waste management and recycling here.

Get your community involved

Is there a community-driven group or caring business in your area? A dedicated group of committed people can effectively solve local problems.

Think about starting or joining community groups like a street WhatsApp group, residents' association, or community policing forum (CPF) to get help and to stay informed and involved in local issues.

• How to set up a community group

• How to start a WhatsApp group

• How to start a residents' association

• How to set up a community policing forum

• How to set up a neighbourhood watch

• How to organise community action

• How to use media to create pressure for change

Know your rights – how local government works

It’s important to understand how your local government works so that you can work with them to support what they are doing while your community continues to keep them accountable and deliver services on time. Remember you have a constitutional right to many of the services provided by local government, as well as to accountability and transparency, wherever you live and regardless of how much you earn. It is also where money collected from taxes and rates goes.