The Kimberley Prospector

Early this morning before 04:00, a large wastebin close to Du Toitspan Primary school on Brockman Place in Beaconsfield, Ward 25, was set alight again. This isn’t the first time this has happened and the fire was still burning after 06:00. This presents a serious health risk to the school children and all the residents living in the area.

The fire created a lot of smoke and released many toxic chemicals such as dioxins into the air. These chemicals are known to cause health concerns including respiratory illnesses. This risk is especially great for children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions.

The issue has been taken up with the ward councilor on multiple occasions before but time and time this happens again. Residents have also called for the removal of the wastebin to prevent reoccurrence.

Waste fires are a serious problem and can have devastating effects on the environment and public health. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), waste fires can release large amounts of hazardous substances such as carbon monoxide, dioxins, and other toxic chemicals which can cause serious health effects.

The local authorities and community must work together to find a long-term solution to this problem. For example, the wastebin could be removed and replaced with a fireproof container or an alternative waste disposal solution could be put in place. In addition, more stringent measures need to be implemented to prevent further waste fires from happening.

It is essential that we take the health of our community seriously and work together to find a solution to this problem. The authorities need to take swift action and make sure that the wastebin is removed and that a more suitable waste disposal solution is put in place. Only then will we be able to prevent this from happening again.