Congella Park recycling project grows its services and reach

THE Congella Park Recycling Centre and vegetable project has started a vegetable and recycling exchange with the community.

Commenting on the initiative, Umbilo Business Forum’s Kelvin Caldwell, said during level three lockdown, a decision was made to collect residents’ recycling, and deliver vegetables grown at the park to residents in exchange.

“With the municipality not collecting recycling over the past few months, we didn’t want residents to have a ‘why bother? ‘ attitude towards recycling. We decided to go to the residents to collect recycling for the centre at the park,” said Kelvin.

He said a WhatsApp group was started, which has grown to 60 members in the past four weeks, and is still growing.

“Up to 7pm on Sunday residents let us know what vegetables they require and these are sent through to me and Sheryll Lederle who is also involved in the project. On a Monday morning we go out to the residents and collect their recycling, and deliver their fresh vegetables in a box,” said Kelvin.

He said the group can supply any vegetable or fruit required, as they also source produce from farms.
Currently, produce available includes tomatoes, garlic, cabbages, potatoes and the end of the pumpkins available from the gardens at Congella Park.

“We have seedlings coming in next week and we will be developing and cultivating new land in the park. Irrigation will come from the ponds in the park. We are getting the water tested by the CSIR as well as purified,” he said.

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Kelvin said the Recycling Centre was going well and was run by five of the previously homeless men who started the project in the park.

“We are down to five men, from 12, who really understand the vision and are excellent, motivated and incentivised by income which is transferred into their accounts. We will be redoing the men’s village of eco houses, and also encourage people to visit the park. Although it’s behind on maintenance at the moment because of lockdown, we are working on it. We are hoping to host events and install a stage and an amphitheatre by next year. We also plan to dig out the ponds which are silted up and make them deeper,” he said.

The public is encouraged to donate recycling to the centre. All bottles, plastics, white paper, newspaper, cardboard and tins are collected, 24 hours a day. If items can be separated that would be appreciated, although it isn’t essential.

For orders of vegetables and fruit, WhatsApp Kelvin on 084 381 7588 or Sheryll on 079 628 4906.

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