Some residents of the Havana Informal Settlement are calling on the City of Windhoek to improve waste management services by collecting trash on time and providing bins or additional skip containers.

The residents recently made this call while expressing their dissatisfaction over delays by the municipality in collecting solid waste in Windhoek’s informal settlements.

Upon the arrival of the nbc News team at  Arandis Street in Havana, a pile of waste and dirt could be observed among the homes.

Residents say the pile of waste is a result of community members dumping it there due to a lack of proper waste disposal sites, and, in some cases, it may have been there for over a month.

The residents are calling for the regular collection of waste in the informal settlement, arguing that they also pay municipal rates.

The news team also drove around Havana and Hakahana, spotting similar piles, some of which were along Monte Cristo Road.

The City of Windhoek spokesperson, Lydia Amutenya, said that while the municipality is committed to ensuring cleanliness throughout its jurisdiction, waste transportation is costly.

She, however, acknowledged that temporary delays may occur due to unforeseen issues but was quick to add that it is not typical for waste to be left uncollected for weeks or months, as delays in most cases last only a few days.

Amutenya also noted that skip containers are only placed at strategic points to alleviate waste challenges; the misuse of skips by residents remains an issue, leading to a reduction in service effectiveness.

Nevertheless, the municipality, she said, is planning to provide additional skip containers in the informal settlement.