Department aims to create clean, green communities
Campaign targets a change in people’s attitudes towards waste
Leading clean-up campaigns in municipalities and communities across the country is one of the platforms being used by the department of forestry, fisheries & the environment to meet its constitutional mandate of ensuring everyone’s right to an environment which is not harmful to their health or wellbeing.
Clean-up campaigns have, in recent months, been led by minister Barbara Creecy and deputy minister Makhotso Sotyu in parts of Mogale City and Tshwane in Gauteng; Kagisanong in Mangaung and Matjhabeng (formerly Welkom) in the Free State; and in Taung in North West.
These form part of the “Good Green Deeds” campaign launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2019. The president called on all citizens, business, industry, labour and civil society to perform just one good green deed a day such as recycling waste or conducting clean-up activities in their neighbourhoods.
The aim of the campaign and clean-ups is to educate communities about the importance of a clean and healthy environment and to change people’s attitudes and behaviours towards the responsible management of waste.
It also aims to promote efficient waste and environmental management within municipalities, with the ultimate goal of creating an environmentally conscious society.
Besides donning gloves and picking up litter, the department is contributing to efficient municipal waste management through the provision of training and equipment, such as trucks to collect waste, front-end loaders and waste compactors.
Illegal dumping and littering have created serious environmental and health hazards in various parts of the country. The hope is that this will contribute to effective waste collection and landfill management.
Speaking at the clean-up in Mangaung, Free State, recently, Creecy said the department has a 12-month R10m investment in the Mangaung metropolitan municipality to improve the overall waste management system there.
“If your waste management infrastructure is not up to scratch and you’re not ensuring the landfill sites are safe and compliant with all regulations and laws, then you have a problem,” said Creecy.
In addition, the department will also be creating employment opportunities by placing 120 beneficiaries of the expanded public works programme to assist in areas without regular household waste collection to prevent illegal dumpsites. They will also educate communities about proper waste management.
‘‘ Ramaphosa called on all to perform one good green deed a day