What started with the cleaning of one street corner in 2018, has turned into one of the most recognisable and active cleaning associations Johannesburg has ever seen.
The Waste Collection Community Association has been spending the last three years helping to make the City of Johannesburg a clean place for all. During this time, the association has been facing the dirt and grim of the communities such as Windsor, Albertsville, Westdene, Alexandra and many others in an attempt to make Joburg cleaner.
Patrick Kule, Katlego Maripane and Mariping Koikoi are part of the directors leading the association and shared that their passion for a cleaner environment and commitment to hard work has resulted in the project being able to grow. Kule said, “This has never been about money, and it’s always been about making a change for the environment and changing the mindsets and behaviour of people.”
They have been working under the Expanded Public Works Programme mandated by the City of Johannesburg’s Pikitup and were given space at Pikitup’s Randburg Depot along Hans Schoeman Street in Praegville. Maripane said, “We are occupying this space in partnership with Pikitup and doing recycling and separation at source here. It is also open to the public to come to drop off their recyclables any day of the week.”
The association also works with depots across the city to carry out its tasks to all corners of Joburg. Maripane added that they are more than happy for businesses and residential complexes to contact them to collect recyclables from their property at zero cost.
The association has received invites from various communities to partner with them to make their areas cleaner, healthier and more beautiful. Kule said, “We do get invited by community organisations to come and assist with clean-up campaigns, activations for such campaigns and raise awareness on the importance of waste collection and recycling.”
The association has been welcomed by the community. Koikoi added, “Once we start working, they [communities] see how determined we are to make a difference. They partner with us and we feel their excitement to have us working with them in their communities.”
The association plans to extend its work to reach more communities and urge residents to partner with them.
Details: For more information, contact 062 836 7976.
