GALLERY: JHB residents cautioned to separate garbage and recyclable waste
It was reported that Robinson Deep landfill site in Johannesburg will reach its capacity in the next three years and residents were cautioned to separate garbage and recyclable materials starting from July 1.
IT was reported that Robinson Deep landfill site in Johannesburg will reach its capacity in the next three years and residents were cautioned to separate garbage and recyclable materials starting from July 1.
Incase you missed: Recycling will become compulsory from 1 July , residents will have to separate their waste before Pikitup collects. Might as well make the best of everything #Antilittering #Aresebetseng ^NS pic.twitter.com/WS6Tt1Udxp
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) June 20, 2018
However, if the residents assist with the separating of recyclable materials from normal waste, the time frame can be extended.
The site serves areas like Rosettenville, Turffontein, Haddon, Forest Hill, South Hills and other parts of the south.
Baba Zondi Rosettenville said: “If Robinson will be full in the next three years why don’t they accumulate another piece of land for waste? Because this will create lots of work for us as we have to separate garbage from recyclable material. This is insane.”
Be a responsible Joburg resident that picks up litter whenever you see it. #Antilittering ^KN pic.twitter.com/1wF2Q1XbRx
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) June 20, 2018
The COURIER spoke to Muzi Mkhwanazi, Pikitup spokesperson about the matter:
How will this work?
Pikitup will continue to provide residents in the participating areas with a clear or a blue plastic bag and residents are expected to dispose of recyclable materials like paper, metal, glass and plastic in those bags. Pikitup or service providers appointed by Pikitup will then collect the materials on scheduled refuse collection days
Take note: #Antilittering ^KN pic.twitter.com/UAEDvHvdfi
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) June 20, 2018
What measures have been taken to inform residents about the matter?
The Separation at Source Programme has been in operation since 2009 on a voluntary basis, the only difference now is that it has been made mandatory, meaning it is now compulsory for residents to separate their waste at source. A number of awareness campaigns have been undertaken such as door to door information sessions where residents were informed about the programme.
Information flyers were distributed articulating what type of materials should be recycled and community meetings held to explain the process. A number of councillors were also informed about the programme so that they too can inform residents about the programme.
These birds are leading by example. Stop littering #Antilittering #AReSebetseng ^PS pic.twitter.com/05zcFJgYFm
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) June 20, 2018
The education and awareness campaigns will be undertaken on a continuous basis. The mandatory Separation at Source Programme will not be penalising residents who are not complying. The issue of penalties or incentives will be considered at a later stage.
If residents separate garbage from recyclable waste, will the Robinson Deep landfill three years’ timeframe be extended?
The lifespan of the landfill sites, which is estimated to be remaining with approximately five to six years, will be extended.
However, this depends on the volumes or quantities of recyclable materials that do not end up on landfill sites. Currently, 90 per cent of waste ends up at landfill sites and only 10 per cent is recycled, so there is a huge amount of work that needs to be done to turn the tide around and we are appealing to residents to recycle in large numbers so that the landfill airspace is preserved.
Failure to do so might force Pikitup to look for landfill space in other provinces and use trains to transport the waste to those provinces and that might mean increases in refuse removal tariffs as a result of the increased transport costs.
If Elephants🐘 can do it then why can't we? #Antilittering #Aresebetseng ^NS pic.twitter.com/i2N4kmTAHC
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) June 20, 2018
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