Masihlule Recycling, in collaboration with Integrated Waste and Recycling Services (IWARS), spent some of their time last week Friday to celebrate Mandela Day in Alexandria through a cleanup with two schools in the area.
Masihlule Recycling, in collaboration with Integrated Waste and Recycling Services (IWARS), spent some of their time last week Friday to celebrate Mandela Day in Alexandria through a cleanup with two schools in the area.
The campaign was organised by Ndlambe Municipality with support from the Directorate of Community Protection Services which forms part of the plan for municipalities to establish programmes for Mandela Day.
“We came in and gave a brief talk about recycling and intend on doing future workshops at the schools as part of this awareness,” said Mark Price from IWARS.
Price said that the two schools, Bongweni and Ukhanyo Secondary School, collected large amounts of refuse and were introduced to the two bag system through separating what they collected into recyclable and non-recyclable waste.
According to Ndlambe Municipal spokesperson Khululekile Mbolekwa, the municipality developed a concept document on how to go about establishing a programme for the day by identifying Alexandria as a neglected area.
Ndlambe Mayor Vukile Balura, accompanied by students of Stenden University in Port Alfred, reminded learners on the importance of keeping the environment clean.
Masihlule Recycling (which means ‘let us sort’ in Xhosa) aims to organise an effective waste management system in municipal area.
During the project’s recent monthly meeting, future developments were discussed such as their own truck which will be organised to collect the clear bags of recyclable materials on the same day the municipal truck goes around to collect the black plastic bags.
The Masihlule Recycling building will also be extended to include offices as well as a large shed with a four metre high wall to house their machinery.
The bales of recyclables will therefore also be kept dry and not damage the machinery so much any more.A glass crushing machine, courtesy of the Department of Social Development will see a new system of crushing glass being introduced.
Price said “it’s a better system than they [Masihlule sorters] used to use” which involved crushing the glass by hand.
Since the project’s inception, Price said that “the amount of waste is definitely growing and the volumes will quadruple” when the new developments are adopted.
Residents have been concerned of late as to how few recycling bags are put out on garbage collection days.
Price said that the two bag system is definitely helping in terms of keeping recyclable material clean and separated from the rest of the refuse.
He also added that they have had a good reaction from people and they are definitely receiving enough recyclable material on a weekly basis, particularly from Rhodes University which is supplying them with large quantities.
The project plans to hold a workshop in the near future to establish the non-profit organisation as a co-operative or a section 21 community project.
Price said that this is an indication that the project has grown as “74 people from the Ndlambe and Makana area have been affected by the project”.
