Green Corridors tackles nappy disposal crisis at Durban North informal settlements
The project encourages residents to dispose of nappies and other absorbent hygiene products safely to ensure that sewerage systems do not become blocked and the environment isn't impacted negatively by the non-biodegradable items.
GREEN Corridors, the non-profit organisation (NPO) dedicated to environmental and social initiatives in Durban, has joined forces with the Swiss University ETH Zürich and Kimberly-Clark.
Earlier this year, the organisation embarked on a groundbreaking project to address the pressing issue of dumped disposable nappies and other absorbent hygiene products (AHPs), such as panty-liners, wipes and sanitary pads, in informal settlements.
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“Disposable AHPs, which are designed to absorb fluid, are made from plastic and other materials, posing a significant environmental challenge due to their non-biodegradable nature,” explains Green Corridors Green Spaces project officer Musa Shange.
“Their improper disposal leads to environmental contamination and health hazards, including the spread of diseases. These products, especially nappies, also often cause blockages within sewerage systems, which can result in sewage overflow and contamination of waterways,” he added.
The initiative, known as the Inhlanzeko Bin Project, has rolled out a collections system to lessen the impact of improperly disposed of hygiene products on the community, environment and public health. Trained community liaison officers participate in educating and guiding residents. In most informal and rural settlements, the ‘normal’ option for nappies disposal by residents is nearby open dump sites.
Johanna Road and Blackburn Village informal settlements are two of the areas where the project was initiated. In these areas, the normal system of disposing of nappies is at the nearby dump site.
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Now, specialised nappy bins have been provided in selected locations, ablution blocks and crèches in these settlements and are managed by the three part-time employed community members in each community.
They encourage residents to dispose of nappies safely, to collect, check and weigh the bagged contents from the bins, and to remove the bags to temporary storage containers, for weekly collection by CSW contractors and disposal at registered landfill sites.
“While challenges persist in applying integrated and effective waste management systems in Durban’s informal settlements, this Green Corridors project marks a positive step towards mitigating the AHP waste crisis in our informal settlements, alongside drives towards redesign for re-usable AHPs. We hope that by providing a well-managed case study with solid data, it lays a foundation for informing future strategies for safe and environmentally friendly AHP waste disposal,” said Shange.
For more information or to become involved in the Green Corridors AHP project, contact Musa Shange at musa@durbangreencorridor.co.za.
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