THE Ndola City Council (NCC) has impounded a private truck for dumping garbage in an undesignated site.

Garbage was being dumped near the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium at the time the truck was impounded.

Council public relations manager Roy Kuseka said dumping of garbage in an undesignated area was contrary to the Public Health Act and the Zambia Environmental and Management Authority (ZEMA) Act of the laws of Zambia.

The truck, registration number ACT 3355, belonging to a Mr Lwamba Bwalya and driven by Graeme Tembo both of Ndola was impounded following a complaint from a resident of Hillcrest who alerted council authorities.

Mr Kuseka said the resident blocked the truck with his car to prevent the driver from leaving the site after he attempted to empty his truck for what was to be his second trip.

"The action by the resident is commendable and proves the point that generally management of solid waste is everyone's business in one way or the other and should not be entirely left in the hands of the council," he said.

Mr Kuseka said the impounded truck would only be released after the owners settled a fine of KR1,500 (K1.5 million).

He, however, said upon payment of the fine the council intended to report the matter to the ZEMA because the transporters did not have a transporter's licence which allowed ferrying waste to a dumpsite.

The only designated place for the disposal of garbage in Ndola is Kaloko dump site in Mushili.