THE Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is making strides in its efforts to turn the face of Korsten central business district around, thanks to a new recycling project which has seen stakeholders working together towards a common goal.
The project encourages business owners in the area to refrain from illegally dumping waste generated by their stores. It is led by a team of 13 workers employed through the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) Cleaning and Greening programme and stationed at the busy Durban Road, where they hop from shop to shop collecting the waste for recycling purposes and assist businesses with waste management.
According to Sithembiso Soyaya, “The project which has been operating for three months is a partnership between NMBM, the DFFE, NMB Business Chamber and East African Business Forum and local recycling company, Noziqhamo.”
NMBM Public Health portfolio head, Councillor Thsonono Buyeye, described the project as a step in the right direction as the Metro seeks to influence residents to realise that waste is a money-generating tool.
Buyeye said, “We have always had challenges when it comes to cleaning the Korsten CBD and it became clear that we needed the business owners to play their part too. Previously the owners would just dump the waste on the streets but since the project started, we are seeing some positive change. Waste management needs behavioural change if we want to see a long-term impact. Although there is still a long way to go to change the face of Korsten, the recycling project is a good start as all stakeholders have committed resources to the project.”
The workers mostly collect cardboard and plastic waste which is then collected by Noziqhamo at a price. The recycler then shares the statistics with NMBM and pays the DFFE participants for the material as part of the beneficiation legacy of the project. Soyaya said, “Business owners have been commended for not only putting the waste out in the designated areas, but for sorting the waste according to waste categories too, actively taking part in the project. Business owner Adbiaziz Mohamed said the project was yielding positive results.”
According to business owner, Adbiaziz Mohamed, “Before the project started, we were struggling but at least now there is a bit of cleanliness on the street. We used to throw papers and people did not listen they would throw waste near the poles and there would be rubbish everywhere. We are happy now. The project started about three months ago and we are now seeing the difference. We are cooperating with them and working together so it’s all good.”
Team leader Samantha Geldenhuys said the compensation from Noziqhamo is a much-needed additional income to their monthly salaries.
“We work as a team and whatever we weigh and get paid for, we split the money among ourselves. It’s definitely a good way to teach residents about recycling and its benefits. We also see the difference the project is making in Korsten,” Geldenhuys said.
