Avenues resident Derrick ‘More Fire’ Tompson has progressed with his plan to recycle glass bottles he and others have collected in Edenvale.
Earlier this year, Derrick started cleaning Protea Park and although he plans to continue to do so, he expanded his efforts.
In June he started a recycling initiative and cleaned more of Edenvale, specifically the Avenues.
Derrick started at First Avenue and progressed towards Edenvale Sports Grounds.
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In June, he started cleaning the Avenues, starting at First Avenue and progressing towards the Edenvale Sports Grounds.
Since starting his initiative, Derrick now has a skip he uses to store the processed bottles.
He said Remade Recycling based in Germiston provided the skip.
Derrick said one of the main reasons he wanted to get a skip was to prevent the bottles from being washed into the Eastleigh Spruit.
Although there are other areas where Derrick would like to see more skips, to aid his recycling initiative, he said this is a starting point.
In the future, Derrick hopes to have recycling skips at Edenvale Taxi Rank, Edenvale Sports Grounds and community parks.
“I’m so excited, this is a step ahead,” said Derrick.
He said when he first told people what he wanted to do they thought he was joking.
“With the skip and the project underway, now people know that I am serious.”
Following the success of his recycling initiative, Derrick also registered his own business, which assists with furniture removals and rubble removal to prevent illegal dumping.
Originally from Ghana, Derrick said illegal dumping is a problem in his home country, a problem which he does not want in Edenvale.
Derrick’s determination to clean up Edenvale is twofold.
The town is the home town of his daughter Kwenza.
“This is my daughter’s home. She was born here. I want to help look after the area she lives in.”
The other reason Derrick decided to take action was the death of Caroline Sithole and her unborn child who died during the November 2016 floods.
“Her death made me realise I needed to make an impact in the community,” explained Derrick.
Derrick said through the recycling initiative he can employ several collectors with piece jobs.
He said he pays the collectors R150 a day for their assistance.
Justice Mosoeu, a partner of the recycling initiative, said he is excited to be helping Derrick.
“The pandemic has limited job opportunities and I’m glad to be working with Derrick and improving the community. We are trying to make it a better place for everyone.”
Since Derrick started collecting the bottles, he said the reception from the community has been positive.
“Some community members are even putting their glass bottles aside for me.”
In the future, Derrick hopes to have printed bags distributed to those interested to assist with the collection process.
Derrick appealed to the community for donations of gloves, tools to assist with bottles and a first-aid kit.
Contact him on 078 849 4028.
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