Johannesburg: Johannesburg is facing a growing waste management crisis as illegal dumping remains widespread, waste collection comes under pressure and the city’s landfill space continues to shrink.
In Kya Sands, an industrial area in northern Johannesburg, illegally dumped rubbish has formed a large mound that has grown significantly in recent years. The illegal dumpsite grew after a nearby municipal landfill reached capacity and closed in 2010. Trucks have also been seen unloading rubbish at the site.
The problem extends beyond Kya Sands. Johannesburg’s municipal waste company, Pikitup, has identified more than 2,000 illegal dumping hotspots across the city. The company allocated 115 million rand in the 2025/26 financial year to tackle illegal dumping.
In Alexandra township, rubbish has accumulated in streets and public areas, including plastic, food waste and construction debris. Some residents have reported waiting as long as four weeks for household waste to be collected.
Pikitup has faced a combination of labour disputes, financial pressures, fleet reliability problems and service backlogs. Earlier this year, the company said disruptions at some depots and the partial closure of the Marie Louise landfill had made waste disposal more difficult and increased travelling distances for some collection operations.
Pikitup chair Maxwell Nedzamba said in September that cash flow problems across the City of Johannesburg were contributing to the waste collection crisis.
The collection problems have also increased reliance on informal waste haulers in some communities. These operators can fill gaps when municipal collection is disrupted, although some waste haulers have been linked to illegal dumping when rubbish is not taken to authorised disposal facilities.
Carmen Jordaan, co owner of Whole Earth Recycling, described how informal waste collection can fill gaps when municipal services are disrupted.
Illegal dumping has environmental consequences beyond the accumulation of rubbish. Waste can block stormwater drains, attract rodents and other pests and pollute land and waterways. Burning rubbish can also release smoke and pollutants into surrounding communities.
The pressure is becoming more serious because Johannesburg has limited landfill space. Only two of the city’s four municipal landfills currently accept general waste. A recent study by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research found that Johannesburg’s remaining landfill capacity averaged less than a year.
The finding highlights the urgency of reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill. It does not mean that all landfill capacity in Johannesburg will end on a specific date.
The city is taking steps to improve waste collection and disposal. In August, Pikitup added nine new 19 cubic metre compactor trucks to its fleet as part of a wider vehicle renewal programme. The new vehicles are intended to improve collection capacity and reliability.
Johannesburg has also intensified clean up operations in areas affected by illegal dumping. A multi agency operation in Alexandra in August brought together Pikitup, Johannesburg Water, the Johannesburg Roads Agency, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department, community workers and local volunteers.
The city is also investing in recycling infrastructure. On September 17, a new recycling sorting facility was unveiled at the Robinson Deep Landfill Site. The facility is intended to support the recovery of recyclable materials and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.
Infrastructure upgrades are also continuing at the Linbro Park Landfill Site. The project includes sorting facilities, stormwater infrastructure and other improvements intended to strengthen waste management operations and environmental controls.
The city is also under pressure to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill by expanding recycling, waste separation and other forms of waste treatment.
Waste pickers already play an important role in recovering recyclable materials from discarded waste. Recycler and law student Nomvula Phaliso has called for greater support for waste pickers, including safer access to waste, protective equipment, storage facilities and community recycling centres.
The problems in Johannesburg reflect a wider challenge facing rapidly growing African cities. Africa’s urban population is expected to grow sharply by 2050, while waste generation in sub Saharan Africa is projected to rise substantially.
For Johannesburg, however, the immediate challenge is local. The city must keep rubbish moving from homes to authorised disposal and recycling facilities while dealing with financial pressures, operational difficulties and declining landfill capacity.
The continuing problem of illegal dumping suggests that improving collection alone may not be enough. The city is pursuing stronger enforcement, greater recycling and long term investment as it tries to address the waste problem and reduce pressure on its landfills.