Glenmore’s recycling efforts hampered by lack of bags
A LOCAL school’s recycling initiative is being hampered by the city’s lack of distribution of recycling bags to the area, and teachers are frustrated.
Glenmore Primary School has a major recycling programme, so much so that pupils diligently carry recyclable rubbish from home to school daily. It’s taken years to inculcate a culture of recycling, say teachers.
This “rubbish” is either turned into artworks, which grace the walls and corridors of the school, or it is entered into a recycling rewards initiative for pupils and classrooms.
But principal David Spiteri said there was just one problem: all the recyclable goods were piling up and there were no eThekwini recycling bags to put the rubbish in.
“We got the orange bags when they were first issued and it was great because we had a system to collect and the pupils learnt important lessons about the impact of plastics and waste on the environment, and that our efforts at the school fed into the greater recycling programme of the municipality,” said Spiteri.
However, over the past few months the supply of the bags has dwindled to nothing.
“Our teachers have called and e-mailed several times to ask why the bags were not being delivered, and requested bags, but there has been no answer and it’s very frustrating,” he said.
The school recycles plastics, bottle tops and bread packet tags, and paper.
They recommend pupils do not bring glass as it poses a danger if broken.
The school encourages pupils to pick up litter and create artworks out of waste material. Mosaic pattern art made from brightly coloured plastic bottle tops line the walls, while chandelier-type art, made from various materials, hangs from the corridor ceilings.
“It’s taken us a long time to instil the importance of recycling in our children. They make an effort in bringing the recyclables to school and we reward them with a ‘cool class’ award. We need the city to also complete the cycle of waste collection,” he said.
eThekwini municipality spokeswoman Tozi Mthethwa said: “The city is making every effort to ensure that sufficient orange and clear bags are delivered to all residents timeously so as to continue encouraging the recycling programme.
“Residents who have not received orange bags are encouraged to utilise clear bags to recycle paper, plastic, Tetrapak, polystyrene, cardboard, cans and glass. Residents are asked to ensure that cans and glass are put in a separate, clear bag,” she said.
“Please ensure that all recyclables are clean and dry before placing in the bags. The collection will take place on the normal collection day.”
Mthethwa encouraged residents or stakeholders who would like to take part in the city’s Orange Recycling Bag Programme to contact the Durban Solid Waste helpline on 031 303 1665/ 311 8804 or to e-mail kdbarec@durban.gov.za