Littering has a knock-on effect

EVERYBODY has the right to a clean and litter-free environment. These rights also bring responsibilities to us and fellow community members.

The litter problem infringes on our rights and the environment. The conversation will be started be asking,“who litters”, and the answer is simple: me and you. The culprits can be walking, driving and even hiking all over Cape Town. The Cape Flats communities can also quickly point fingers to the “carthorses” (waentjies) who drop and dump all over our communities.

I grapple with this. Do these culprits fully understand the magnitude of their actions? Their actions have a negative knock-on effect. The effects of littering and dumping are then being seen as normal part of life and living in such dirty conditions as a norm. This situation is very dangerous to our communities, therefore we need a mindset change.

This in itself is a process that will take time. No Messing in Bonteheuwel was a pioneering cleanup project in 2002- 2010, and summarised how such a project should work: “The project is about teaching people to take control of the quality of their lives. It’s about showing them that they do not need to live in an area choked with litter.”

The project indicated to a extent that a mindset change not to litter is achievable but need to be continuously reinforced at all levels (young to old). Remember as you clean your mind, also not to forget to #CleanYourHood. WILMOT ARENDSE Kuils River