City’s orange bag project back on track

THE city’s award-winning orange bag recycling programme is back on track and residents can expect to have the bags delivered and collected from their homes this week. This was confirmed by Raymond Rampersad, head of Durban Solid Waste (DSW).

The recycling programme was halted last year after the city failed to supply and collect the bags.

“For the past few months, DSW has been experiencing challenges which have hindered the recycling project in the city. The project is back and the unit is to further contribute to the sustainability of the environment through the Kerbside Orange Bag Project,” said Rampersad.

Previously it emerged that the tender for the supply of the bags had been awarded to a company which lacked experience and technical knowledge, leading to the collapse of the project. According to the municipal investigator’s report, Persian Star Investments

11 CC was wrongly awarded the tender. Its alleged inability to handle the contract meant that the city regularly ran out of bags.

The municipality later found that even though the city cancelled the contract with Persian Star, money was still paid to the company.

This week, Rampersad said DSW was instrumental in implementing the project which was hailed as a valuable commodity in the sustainability of the environment. He said every project came with challenges in some areas which required immediate attention to ensure smooth development.

Queries about the project can be made to customer services on

031 311 8804 or 031 322 0780. HOW TO