The City of Johannesburg recently announced that separation at source will be mandatory for all households from 1 July.
The statement came from City of Johannesburg’s MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services, Nico de Jager. However, it has caused some confusion on how the process will be implemented.
Also read: Household recycling to become mandatory in Joburg from July
Spokesperson for Pikitup, Muzi Mkhwanazi said the City of Johannesburg is running out of landfill space and it is imperative that residents should embrace responsible waste management practices. “By making separation at source a mandatory activity, it is anticipated that more recyclables will be derived from residents.”
Mkhwanazi said the programme has been implemented on a voluntary basis in the past in different areas since 2009. He continued that the next phase is to make separation at source mandatory in the same areas where it has been operating on a voluntary basis.
“It makes recycling efficient in that recyclables are separated from the general waste in households and are placed in separate bags making it easier for collection.”
Mkhwanazi said residents are being issued with a clear plastic bag for recyclables in which they are expected to deposit plastic, cans, paper, bottles and cardboard boxes. He said recyclable containers such as bottles or cans should ideally be rinsed.
“Approximately 4.5kg of recyclable waste is collected per household per month in the areas were separation at source is operational.”
In addition, he stressed that residents won’t need extra bins, but will be provided with the clear plastic bags.
The recyclables are collected by SMME’s and cooperatives appointed by Pikitup. “The SMME’s and cooperatives then sort the recyclable materials and sell them to the recycling industry.”
If you have not received your clear plastic bags contact the City’s call centre on 0860 562 874 or the local Pikitup depot in the area.
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Also check out:
https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/204158/separation-source-become-mandatory-joburg/
