THOZEKA Letuka’s dream of building a recycling centre has come true. Her dream is to motivate people to keep their area clean while earning an income.
The New Germany resident is known in the Clermont and KwaDabeka communities for the love and respect she has for the environment and has hosted many clean-ups and trainings about waste management through her environmental company, Big Start.
The eco warrior was recently awarded by KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs for her efforts to keep the community clean.
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The recycling centre is situated next to the Durban Solid Waste (DSW) Clermont Garden Refuse and Transfer Station in Freese Road.
Letuka said it has always puzzled her that people are so ignorant when it comes to protecting the environment. “People do not care about dumping litter anyhow, anywhere,” she said.
Although the centre is still bare bones, with just one container, Letuka said it is the start of something bigger and a step towards a clean environment, as the work has kicked in.
“This recycling centre is the first one in Clermont/KwaDabeka, and our dream is to have centres within 2km radiuses of each other in the area, so they can easily be accessed by all.”
Belinda Putterill from Use-It Waste Beneficiary, an NPO funded by the eThekwini Economic Development Unit, is among those assisting to make this recycling centre work for everyone.
“I was thrilled to jump on board as everyone knows that Thozeka is passionate about cleanliness.”
Putterill said it is important that everyone recycle. “This will limit pollution. Rubbish strewn around shows lots of social ills. It is so sad that we live as if waste is part of our lives,” she said.
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She urged companies around the area to get involved and fund this initiative.
Nathi Thusi, from Nathi Africa Just Recycle, who shares the same vision as Letuka and Putterill, said living in a waste-free space will help the environment breathe.
“It is important that we recycle as, for instance, paper is made from trees. If we do not recycle, we are going to continue cutting more trees, the same trees that provides us with oxygen.
“This is an opportunity for people to earn an income. We are putting value to waste. Waste is money. By having more recycling centres, we want to reach a point where it can become a norm for people to not pass litter on the road but pick it up,” said Thusi.
Letuka added that alongside this initiative, they run a good economy project where they have hired young people to help with clean-ups.
Last Thursday, the group cleaned up the entrance and surroundings of the Durban Solid Waste (DSW) Clermont Garden Refuse and Transfer Station which has been in a mess for some time with piles of rubbish dumped outside.
“People just dump outside, and I appeal to the public to stop the illegal dumping.”
She also called on waste collectors to come and register with them. “They will be eligible for R1 400 if they could bring 40 bags of separated recyclable waste each month,” she said.
