Johannesburg ready to implement phase two of recycling project

The idea is to get residents to start turning trash (waste) to treasure (resource), thereby evoking a change in mindset where value can still be extracted from what was previously viewed as useless.

Visiting households

Separation at Source has already been in operation in the Waterval area, covering suburbs like Northcliff, Cresta, Westcliff and Fairlands. Essentially, it requires residents to use separate receptacles to collect their waste - a black bin for non-recyclable household waste, a clear durable plastic bag for glass, cans and plastics, and a reusable white bag for all paper materials.

Pikitup has pulled out all the stops with an education and awareness drive where field workers, the Treasure Team, have been visiting households in the affected areas. The visits aim to alert residents on the Separation at Source Project, explaining the importance of resident participation, as well as educating them about the importance of recycling.

Businesses opportunities

"Not only does the project contribute towards a sustainable environment, but it also creates business opportunities for the city's reclaimers and recycling cooperatives, who are make a living out of selling discarded recycled items," said Matshidiso Mfikoe, the City's MMC for Environment, Infrastructure and Services.

Separation at Source will soon be brought to the Diepsloot, Ivory Park and Orange Farm areas. The initial roll-out in the Waterval area started in 2009 and had huge buy-in from the residents.

Explaining why Separation at Source is not being rolled out across the city yet, Mfikoe says: "The phased implementation process is so that we can learn as we implement and also ensure that more residents in the city become involved by 2014. If we want to preserve our environment, we need to start practising environmentally friendly habits now."