Hoedspruit: Take a stand against single-use plastics
During last week's meeting, the group discussed how households in Hoedspruit can reduce the waste in their homes.
A follow-up meeting was held on Friday at Maroela Bar to discuss how Hoedspruit is making a stand against the use of single use plastics.
This after the initial meeting was held last month on Friday, May 11.
This initiative is the brainchild of Hoedspruit residents, Lou Rambert and Claudia Slattery.
During last week’s meeting, the group discussed how individuals can reduce the waste in their homes.
One idea brought to the table is to encourage the ‘eco-bricks’ campaign currently being demonsrtated by Southern Cross Schools. An eco-brick is a plastic drinks bottle (two litre, one litres or 500ml) filled with rubbish such as polystyrene, shrink wrap and any other small pieces that can be squeezed in.
The bottle is then used as building material in construction projects. The bottle needs to be of a certain weight, so people are encourage to really squeeze as much rubbish as they can inside. Filled bottles can then be dropped off at Southern Cross School.
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The group members who attended the meeting intend to release a ‘how to’ video in the near future, educating Hoedspruit residents on how they too can create these eco-bricks.
The group also discussed the use of bio-bins in households. All biodegradable food waste is put in the bio-bins and the lid closed for two weeks, ultimately creating compost which can then be used in the garden.
Claudia and Lou aim to create a Facebook page with regards to the ‘say no to plastics’ campaign and will advertise local businesses that comply with the campaign on the social media platform.
Pick ‘n’ Pay in Hoedspruit have recently rolled out an awareness campaign in the store, using signs to discourage shoppers from using single-use plastics. A sign at the end of the tills reads, ‘Do you really need a plastic bag?’and another reads, ‘Do you really need a plastic straw?’
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Furthermore, shoppers are encouraged to bring their own lunch boxes when buying food from the deli.
The attendees of Friday’s meeting discussed the amount that people spend on buying plastic bags from grocery shops in an average month and quickly realised that some households may spend as much as R45 a month on plastic bags! In a third world country, where salaries are low and many are unemployed, this figure is ludicrous.
Educating people and encouraging people to re-use plastic bags instead of buying them over and over again seems the next logical step.
“Each one of us can make a difference. Together we make change.” – Barbara Mikulski
So come on Hoedspruit, its time that EVERYBODY got involved in this international campaign.
