Municipal Waste Management team marks Earth Day
A fired-up waste management team of the Mossel Bay Municipality took to the streets in Asla Park on Friday, 19 April, as part of an educational programme focusing on spaza shops.
The programme was part of the department’s efforts in celebration of Earth Day, on 22 April.
As part of the educational programme, spaza and tuck shops were informed of the health risks associated with illegal dumping in open spaces.
They were also shown how to correctly separate their waste at the source and place recyclables into a blue bag to support the municipality’s recycling effort.
As part of this door-to-door street campaign, informative posters were shared to remind shop owners how to separate their waste.
The programme included information on the correct disposal of expired food items.
The motto for the day was “don’t dump in open spaces, wait for the truck”.
Waste removal in Asla Park takes place twice a week, when different areas of the neighbourhood are serviced on Mondays and Fridays, as well as Tuesdays and Fridays.
Shops that have expired food items that must be disposed of are urged to contact the municipal Waste Management Department (044 606 5151) for more information on the correct waste disposal process.
The waste management team also held Earth Day commemorative efforts last weekend, hosting an educational street campaign in Asla Park.
Among the topics discussed was keeping of animals, noise pollution, business licences, asbestos removal, how to deal with medical waste and using the three-bag system black, blue and green bags - correctly to separate waste.
On Earth Day, the team concluded their efforts at Garden Route High School in Asla Park, with interactive sessions
As part of this door-to-door street campaign, informative posters were shared to remind shop owners how to separate their waste.
with 35 learners about taking care of the environment and the earth.
The learners were equipped with reading material, treated to goodie bags and practical demonstrations were given on waste separation, to harness support for the municipality’s recycling effort. Partners in the outreach included Nestlé and Garden Route District Municipality.
Report illegal dumping
The municipality urges the community to report illegal dumping by calling the Waste Management Department (044 606 5143/5281) or the general switchboard and after-hours call centre (044 606 5000).
Photographs are helpful in tracing perpetrators and bringing them to book. Photographs can be emailed to admin@ mosselbay.gov.za. Perpetrators will be fined up to R1 000.