Starting with the youngest the City of Cape Town is working to change the mindset around litter and dumping with an awareness programme at schools.
Known as Cleaner Schools, Safer Schools, the project will supply selected schools with donations of paint, cleaning supplies and toilet paper to help them create an environment that discourages littering.
Recently launched at Bloekombos Primary School in Kraaifontein, Mayco member for urban waste management Grant Twigg visited the school to talk to learners about how a cleaner school can benefit them as part of the project. The project aims to highlight how litter can contribute to increased crime, or conversely how cleaner environments can deter criminal elements.
The aim is to highlight the importance of cleaning to children and to motivate them to play their part in their communities, by keeping their schools clean. A total budget of R50 000 has been assigned to the project.
Following the visit Twigg told TygerBurger that the project was welcomed by learners at the school.
“The children were excited to be in the first school to participate in this programme. They were very aware of floodings that occur, which allowed us to explain to them how drains get blocked as a result of waste being dumped and littering in our communities,” says Twigg.
“Keeping Cape Town clean requires a partnership between residents and government. It is key that we reach the children with this message as early as possible if we want to change the culture around waste in communities where littering and dumping is a challenge. They can be agents of positive change.
“Dumping can become a vicious cycle. It can degrade an area, and lower property values, which then can cause more dumping and attract crime. It is important we show residents from a young age that these things are interconnected, so they are more motivated not to litter, and to address littering and dumping in their surroundings.”
