As this is the first time I’ve written for this column I will introduce myself. I am hoping you will engage with this column, tell me what you want publicised, what concerns you about the local environment and give me feedback.
As this is the first time I’ve written for this column I will introduce myself. I am hoping you will engage with this column, tell me what you want publicised, what concerns you about the local environment and give me feedback.
I arrived just over three years ago from the UK and have settled permanently in Grahamstown having retired from a policing career mainly based in London.
Despite the dysfunctional local Council, Grahamstown is a wonderful place to live, with so many friendly people of all persuasions who want the town to improve and regain a confident identity and civic pride.
Bit by bit change is happening, and the historic legacy which has caused so much disconnect and hopelessness (in all parts of the community) is being resolved.
Stopping corrupt and incompetent practices is vital for the environment, so that funds are available to maintain and develop services, clear policies in place, good project management and enforcement where necessary.
At present the state of our Municipal Dump epitomises all these issues.
Plastic, tins and glass
In the meantime, you might be surprised to find that every month we manage to send off 8 tons of plastic bags, 18 tons of plastic bottles, 6 tons of cans and 19 tons of glass, on average, for recycling.
That’s just the work of Butch Richardson who has a business situated near the entrance to the Municipal Dump and also a collection point in Cloncore Street.
The latter depot tends to be used by the rubbish pickers who collect recyclables deposited in town on rubbish collection days.
We could do much better, but at least it’s a substantial start.
How is all this recycling achieved?
Those informal workers you see sifting the refuse earn R1 per kilogram selling it to Butch Richardson. Your help – separating and cleaning plastics and glass – assists the process of sorting and results in higher volumes recycled, because each ton of waste to be transported can only contain a very low percentage of contamination, otherwise it will be rejected.
Paper and card
Then there’s Chris Smith who also has premises near the Municipal Dump. He collects most of his recyclables direct from business premises. Monthly he recycles a whopping 60 tons of cardboard, up to 20 tons of paper and about 6 tons of low-density plastics.
The destination for these waste items varies according to market conditions, but includes Cape Town, Joburg, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay and Durban.
It’s good news that over 130 tons of rubbish is being diverted from the Municipal Dump each month, because it helps extend the ‘life’ of the dump, deferring the need to identify the next landfill site.
Composting
In the past few months Jeanine Rado, who runs a farm at Manley Flats, has begun to fill a gap in our recycling. From recycling organic material into compost on her farm she has started a business called Complete Compost.
Her main partnerships at the moment are Makana Municipal Council, Rhodes University and Carara, who provide their green waste for composting, and in due course she aims to produce charcoal from felled trees and branches.
You can support this excellent recycling business by taking your garden refuse to Complete Compost, located at the old Dagbreek site off Cradock Road (follow signs from left turn towards Rautenbach Road).
This is an important addition to Grahamstown’s recycling on our doorstep, and making compost which can be purchased in bulk or smaller bags. She welcomes enquiries: jeanine@completecompost.co.za
Re-using bags
Brand-new this week, St Andrew's College and Diocesan School for Girls Enviro-Club have introduced a recycling bin for plastic bags at Pick n Pay. You are encouraged to deposit bags in the bin when you have a surplus, and help yourself to bags whenever you forget to take bags with you. Seems like a great initiative and Jacques Pienaar would welcome enquiries from other businesses who would like to offer the same free service. Email him at: J.Pienaar@sacschool.com
I will continue researching what recycling is happening in Grahamstown and advertise how you can help increase our rate of recycling. Please email me with any projects or companies you know that are helping to turn Grahamstown green.
I will also report on schools, organisations and individuals who are getting out there and cleaning up Grahamstown. If you are one of these, or want to start helping, please let me know by email (see below).
Find us Online: www.grocotts.co.za/environews
Contacts for Makana Enviro-News:
Nikki Köhly: n.kohly@ru.ac.za, 046 603 7205 | Jenny Gon: j-gon@intekom.co.za, 046 622 5822 | Rachel Ibbetson: g14i5652@campus.ru.ac.za, 079 951 3005| Nick James: nickjames@intekom.co.za, 082 575 9781 | Philip Machanick: p.machanick@ru.ac.za, 046 603 8635 | Tim Bull: timothybull05@aol.com, 076 289 5122
