27 August 2007

THE City of Cape Town has cut its waste volume by about 14% by means of innovative recycling projects.

According to councillor Clive Justus, Chairperson of the Utility Services Portfolio Committee, the latest recycling programme which has just kicked off in Helderberg, Delft and Mfuleni, Brown's Farm, Philippi, the southern suburbs, Hout Bay, follows on earlier pilot projects in the Sea Point CBD and Marina da Gama, which have shown positive results.

The Atlantic seaboard will follow later in the year.

An estimated 50% of the 116 000 households in these five areas are participating in this project.

"It is estimated that each individual in Cape Town contributes an average of two kilograms of waste every day, translating to nearly 5 200 tons per capita per annum. Only 14% of this was removed from the waste stream for recycling.

"The City is fast running out of landfill space and we need to minimise waste as much as possible. Council has also issued a construction tender which will recycle all types of construction materials such as with the crushing of demolished concrete during the partial demolition of the old Green Point stadium," he said.

Residents in the participating areas have been asked to separate wet and dry waste into two loads - wet waste in their bins and the recyclables on clear plastic bags provided by the City's contractors - before they put these out for collection.

"This service is rendered at no additional cost to residents and collection days will not change. We call on them to flatten their dry waste as far as possible," Justus said.

The list of recyclable products is extensive. These include items such as paper products, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles and containers, cans and plastic bags. For now non-recyclables include material such as garden refuse, food scraps, tooth paste tubes, cling wrap, disposable nappies, polystyrene, and containers which once held solvents, acid, chemical or motor oil.

"By recycling the City not only optimises the use of landfill space, but also helps to put valuable materials back into the manufacturing stream. This in turn helps to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases which contributes to global warming. It is imperative that we motivate residents to participate in this to reduce individual carbon footprints.

"The City is also processing a new Integrated Waste Management By-Law which will eventually regulate all waste management services and provide the City with the necessary powers to enforce anti-dumping legislation," he said.

The first draft of the by-law was presented to the Utility Services Portfolio Committee, and will be subject to the normal Council processes, including a public participation process.

Source: capetown.gov.za