Over 300 learners at Newton House School have been drinking copious quantities of 2l cold drinks in an effort to help with the hyacinth problem at Hartebeespoort Dam.
The school is challenging itself to collect 1 000 bottles by the end of next week, with 266 bottles collected so far.
Social sciences teacher Brian Forsyth is passionate about the environment.
Forsyth was inspired by the Randburg Sun’s own conservation efforts with Hartebeespoort Dam.
He thought this was the perfect opportunity to bring his Grade 7s and the entire school on board to help join the conservation effort.
He suggested, “The community needs to be more involved in conservation. This problem was entirely preventative, and was caused by people’s reckless disregard for the environment.”
Vice principal Alan Groom added, “We are such a small school, so 266 bottles work out to almost one bottle per child already.
While plant life is never a terrible thing, the number of water hyacinth growing in the dam is killing its oxygen… This is killing the natural plant and marine life that live there.
If the levels of hyacinth reach 90 per cent by the end of this year, then we have a major problem on our hands that could impact the dam for years to come.”
Caxton Local Media has offered various offices in the Gauteng area as collection points for these bottles. Please find a list of drop-off points listed below. Please note that the bottles MUST have their lids on them and the labels removed.
Should you wish to donate bottles, please drop them off at one of the following Caxton Local Media offices:
- 1187 Cornelius Street, Weltevreden Park
- 368 Jan Smuts Avenue, Craighall Park
- 61 Van der Walt Road, Brakpan
- 48 5th Avenue, Springs
- 20 Sydney Road, Boksburg
- Corner 14th Avenue and O’Reilly Merry Street, Benoni
- 1 Eaton Terrace, Terrace Building, Alberton
- 126 Monument Road, Kempton Park
- 25 Main Road, Fishers Hill, Germiston
- Shop 18A Greenstone Crescent, Greenstone Hill
- 32 Orpen Avenue, Lydiana
- Corner General Pienaar and Ham streets, Witpoortjie
The public can also get involved by making monetary donations towards the rehabilitation project.
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