Minister Barbara Crissy is calling on South Africans to join Clean Up and Recycle Week

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, Ms Barbara Crissy, has appealed to all South Africans to join the national clean up and recycle week activities across the country.

“Litter is a major problem in South Africa and most waste material can be recycled and thus diverted from landfill. By participating in activities for cleaning and processing waste both in rural and urban areas, we contribute to a cleaner environment that will contribute to a healthy society,” said the minister.

Clean and Recycle Week is an annual local industry initiative supported and endorsed by a variety of packaging and retailers. Recycling of packaging and electrical and electronic products increased in 2022 thanks to the historic legislative investment of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fee by various manufacturers. These EPR fees are currently used to improve the collection of recyclable materials, compensate waste collectors and improve overall recycling. Various manufacturers and producer responsibility organizations have submitted interim waste recycling performance reports by 30 August 2022 on their recycling efforts towards the 2022 targets.

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) has launched a R44.5-million National Waste and Landfill Fleet as an intervention to address waste collection in underserved areas, illegal dumps and landfills in selected municipalities across the province . Municipalities have also stepped up their clean-up efforts, especially those that have benefited from the reform of the Municipal Infrastructure Grants Policy through the acquisition of the required yellow fleet.

Each year, around 120,000 volunteers participate in a series of clean-up activities along roadsides, rivers, schools, residential buildings and illegal dumps. The initiative is supported by provincial governments, local municipalities, environmental organizations, businesses, schools and communities. This year, the events will take place from September 12 to 17. Organized by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environmental Protection, the event will be part of the Green Good Things programme, which emphasizes the importance of active citizenship in protecting and managing natural resources and pollution in the areas in which they live. , rivers, beaches and oceans.

Awareness and clean-up activities will be held in Polokwane and Nobody Ga-Mothiba village in Limpopo, Umbongintwini on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal and along the Entshawini River in KwaDukuz, Emotafeni and Elandshuk in Mbombele, Mpumalanga and in Roodepoort, Gauteng. Cleanups will also be carried out at Dakota Beach and Scottsburg, Blydesdale, Zinkwazi, Balito and Tugela, KwaZulu-Natal and Alkantstrand, Buffalo City, Eastern Cape, and Groote Braakriver and Tegniet and Rybok beaches in Mossel Bay , Western Cape.

The minister is calling on all communities, schools, businesses and non-governmental organizations to join hands and clean up their neighborhoods so that we can keep South Africa litter-free. If possible, the collected waste should be recycled or sent for repurposing. In addition, communities are strongly encouraged to mobilize and initiate source separation initiatives in their areas, encouraging households and businesses to support education and outreach activities, support waste pickers, and allocate waste sorting sites that are easily accessible to all. South Africans are also reminded that the waste sector makes a valuable contribution to job creation and economic development.

“We would like to see a society where we all recycle, encourage reuse and reduce the amount of waste we create. We strongly oppose illegal dumping and garbage. Such a week is an ideal opportunity for everyone to start regular public activities to clean up the environment,” said the minister.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the Republic of South Africa: Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment.