Wake up and smell the stink

According to Anne Marie-Smit, the manager of Hospice Wits shop which is situated in the area, the smell is “awful”. The dustbins from surrounding restaurants are placed on the side of her shop. When the Pikitup trucks collect the rubbish, perishable foods are dropped on the ground which leaves an overpowering smell.

Marie-Smit said the janitor had used disinfectant on the road to get rid of the smell, but it was a losing battle as the rubbish was picked up and dropped daily. The caretaker of Thatcher’s Corner centre, Elliot Mandizha often receives complaints from the surrounding restaurants and their patrons about the smell. He has asked Pikitup to be more aware of the refuse being dropped out of the bins, but “they do not want to hear it”.

He added that the bins were only meant for dry refuse, but the restaurants throw away seafood in the bins which “can go bad quickly when left in the sun”.

Stefan Prinsloo, the building manager of Thatcher’s Corner said the bins were washed daily.

“They are cleaned, disinfected and stored away from the sun,” he said. He also mentioned that the bins were limited to wet waste, and there were separate bins for recycling of cardboard and glass.

Spokesperson for Pikitup Pansy Oyedele said she had requested the entity’s Marlboro team to investigate the problem and advise on the plan of action going forward.