Recycling initiatives unites Ngodwana community

NGODWANA -The local forestry industry is eager to achieve a clean and litter-free environment. This became clear during the launch of the Ngodwana Community Recycling initiative on November 4.

“This is a call for action by locals in the area to join hands in collecting all glass bottles and aluminium cans which otherwise would have ended up in the landfill,” explained the general manager of Sappi Ngodwana, Mr SW Engelbrecht.

He added that Sappi Ngodwana Mill will coordinate the project in partnership with the Glass Recycling Company and Interwaste. Proceeds from the initiative will benefit the local community including Clivia Primary School, Rainbow Kids Crèche, Mbokodo Soccer Club, New Jabulani Soccer Club and the Bhamjees Play Centre.

“Each recycling bank is linked to a specific beneficiary, and the money will go towards local projects such as renovations and social projects. “The income from the recycling banks at the local shopping centre and the Sappi Ngodwana Mill administration building will be used to drive the project,” he added.

Speaker after speaker explained that the company did not care for its workers only, but for the environment too. Eight recycling banks were erected in public areas around Ngodwana Villages, the mill’s admin building and the local shopping centre.

The project aims to recycle an average of 0,07 kilograms of glass per capita per day, which amounts to 115 tons of glass per annum, based on the size of the local population.

Mr Innocent Godo of the Glass Recycling Company said the partnership with Sappi was one of its objectives of setting up recycling facilities all over the country. “Our mandate is to promote the recycling of glass. Shortly we say you don’t need to throw it away but reuse, reduce and recycle it. We don’t want any glass in the landfill anymore,”said Godo.