Let’s face it, Emalahleni is dirty.
Currently there is a shortage of trucks, currently only 50% of the refuse removal fleet is available and it is therefore almost impossible to operate effectively however the team is trying to clear the backlog where there is time available.
Instead of moaning about the litter, Patrick Phetla, RG Gates and Riaan van Zyl decided to create awareness around recycling.
Separating recyclables at household level is a requirement in terms of the Waste Act, and the National Waste Management Strategy requires that in four years’ time all metropolitan municipalities, secondary cities and large towns will have initiated programmes for waste separation at source.
According to Dr Suzan Oelofse, a principal researcher at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the participation of households in these programmes will be crucial to achieving the 2016 target.
However, the results of two CSIR surveys show that South Africa’s municipal authorities face a daunting task in creating public awareness around the requirements of the Waste Act.
The study revealed that only 3.3% of the country’s urban population regularly recycled household waste in 2010. This finding is underscored by another study, also conducted by the CSIR, which shows that, of the estimated 19-million tons of municipal waste generated in South Africa in 2011, about 25% were mainline recyclables such as glass, paper, tins and plastics.
According to the Department of Environmental Affairs, an estimated 19-million tons of municipal waste was generated in South Africa in 2011.
Landfill sites also feel the pressure.
Improved recovery of recyclables at household level would significantly alleviate the pressure on South Africa’s municipal landfill sites.
Only a few landfills in the province have a lifespan of 10 years remaining. The best solution for reducing pressure on available landfill space is a reduction in waste through waste minimisation and recycling.
“We want to teach residents about recycling. This is a win-win situation for the local municipality and for us as residents,” Riaan said.
Their company, ‘The Waste Merchants (TWM)’, buys recycled materials and pays per kilogram.
Be part of the solution and recycle.
They initiated a spring project, which gives residents two options to choose from.
With the first option TWM delivers bags at residential homes. It is on the household’s shoulders to sort their household waste and put it in separate bags. TWM then goes to the houses, weighs the bags and pays the household.
The second option is that TWM delivers two bags to households who in turn throw all recyclable household waste in the bags. TWM will pick it up and sort it at their storage facility. The households automatically then gets entered into a monthly draw for a R150 voucher.
To put back into the community, TWM will give R150 a month to a welfare organization of their choice.
For more information on this project contact Riaan: 081 544 3311.
