As the City of Johannesburg is getting ready to implement mandatory household recycling, called Separation at Source, we take a look at how the process will work.
First off, the City is running out of landfill sites to dump waste and believe recycling is a solution to this problem.
MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services, Nico de Jager, said from 1 July, a phased approach to make Separation at Source mandatory would be introduced.
The City also intends to relook at the waste management by-law that explains how separation at source should work so that there can be repercussions for households not doing so.
For now, there will be no repercussions, but De Jager said he hoped it would affect change in any case.
The programme will also be rolled out in a phased approach across the city, starting with suburbs in Soweto, Midrand and in areas where it has already been implemented such as Westdene and Norwood.
“We have 25 SMMEs and two big contractors who will be running this programme,” he said.
“Pikitup is currently providing the service of source separation of dry recyclables in certain areas and has also developed organic or garden waste drop-off centres for the purpose of receiving organic garden waste from communities residing within the city.”
Going forward, affected households will receive bags from the City on a weekly basis for different recyclables.
“For dry recyclables, Pikitup will continue to provide the appropriate bags or receptacles and collect the dry recyclables on a prescribed collection schedule applicable to each area.
“For organic garden waste, it is the duty of the households to separate, store and transport their own organic garden waste and dispose of it at the nearest organic garden waste drop off centre.”
De Jager added that communication with residents was crucial to the success of the programme.
“We want to try and make people more sensitive to this issue.”
De Jager’s plan is to review the entire waste management policy so that eventually households which do not comply face certain consequences.
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