11/05/2026
CITY OF CAPE TOWN
11 MAY 2026
MEDIA RELEASE
Waste collection and disposal delays expected due to severe weather conditions
The City of Cape Town’s Urban Waste Management Directorate advises residents that refuse collection services will experience delays due to ongoing heavy rainfall, flooding and adverse weather conditions affecting operations across the city this week. Read more below:
Persistent wet weather creates significant operational challenges, including restricted vehicle access, slower movement of collection teams and increased traffic congestion.
Flooding has made a number of areas inaccessible to collections and cleansing vehicles, or resulted in resources being diverted to assist in disaster areas, while accessible areas are experiencing heavier traffic than usual.
Update on waste services:
High winds have taken cranes at transfer stations out of service temporarily, meaning that collections and cleansing vehicles must travel further to landfill to empty their loads.
Operations at landfill are proceeding with caution. Continuous risk assessments are being done, and operations may be suspended at short notice if critical safety risks are identified.
Weather conditions are affecting a number of drop-off sites (community recycling centres). The Schaapkraal drop-off site is currently closed, with other sites operating at reduced capacity.
Residents are kindly requested to place their refuse bins out daily until collection has taken place.
In most instances, delays are not expected to exceed two days, meaning refuse should be collected on the day following the scheduled service, or the subsequent day.
Should your refuse remain uncollected by the end of the third day after your scheduled collection date, please report the matter through the City’s Call Centre.
To minimise any remaining backlog at the end of the week, Collections teams will continue working over the weekend where necessary. Residents are also requested to please delay any visits to landfill or drop-off sites wherever possible until the weather improves.
The City is actively implementing contingency measures to maintain service delivery as far as reasonably possible and appreciates the patience and cooperation of residents during this period.
Please also note that operations at disposal facilities have also been affected by high wind conditions and users of these facilities should expect delays.
Reminder to residents
Residents are encouraged to reduce pressure on household bins by:
Recycling where possible; and
Composting organic waste at home.
See helpful information on how to compost and recycle on the City's website.
These measures can assist in reducing the impact of temporary collection delays during adverse weather conditions.
End
Issued by: Media Office, City of Cape Town
Media enquiries: Alderman Grant Twigg, Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Waste Management, City of Cape Town, Cell: 072 171 1033, Email: [email protected] (please always copy [email protected])
