New R2.6 million waste removal truck for NC municipality
KUMBA Iron Ore’s Sishen Mine recently handed over a new R2.6 million waste removal truck to enhance the waste management capabilities of Gamagara Local Municipality.
The continuous management of waste is a critical control that ensures that the health and safety of communities is not compromised.
In order for basic waste removal to take place, routine and effective waste collection strategies need to be put in place to minimise risk and impacts on residents and communities alike.
However, factors such as financial constraints and population growth often burden and hinder processes needed to collect and properly dispose of waste in a timely manner, which in turn negatively affects service delivery.
With its doorstep community experiencing these challenges, Kumba’s Sishen Mine procured a new waste removal truck to bolster the waste management capabilities of Gamagara Municipality, which is currently facing waste removal backlog challenges.
At a cost of R2.6 million, the UD E44 Quester Truck with Hyva Alpha 21 Compactor Body, was handed over to municipal officials to integrate into the existing fleet of service vehicles. With the capacity to haul 21 cubic metres of waste, the new addition proudly stands as the largest truck in the fleet.
The corporate affairs and social performance manager at Sishen Mine, George Benjamin, elaborated on the significance of this social investment.
“Service delivery serves as the cornerstone for community prosperity and must always be a priority. Uncollected waste poses a significant threat to the health and safety of our communities. As a pillar in our Sustainable Mine Plan, a working commitment to fostering a healthy environment is deeply ingrained in our values. We believe that the addition of this new truck will ease some of the pressure on the municipality’s waste management team regarding refuse collection,” said Benjamin.
The new refuse truck also comes with a two-year service plan to ensure that any breakdowns can be easily attended to.
The mayor of Gamagara Municipality, Johannes Roman, expressed his gratitude.
“It gives us great pleasure to incorporate this truck into our fleet. Previously, we relied on smaller vehicles such as bakkies and trailers to try and reduce the refuse waste backlog,” said Roman.
“With the UD service team’s workshop situated in Gamagara, we can ensure that the truck is always on the road. We truly appreciate the relationship between Sishen Mine and the municipality. We will take good care of this truck.”
