Streets of Atlantis, like many other streets in communities in South Africa and the rest of Africa, are paved and dripping with gold.
This is the sentiment of Cecil Mubvumbi, from Protea Park, who is urging locals to supplement their income by recycling.
“Now is the time to think critically, and outside the box to create wealth, and economic activities within our communities with whatever is readily available at our disposal,” he said.
“It may come as a surprise to many but trash, that rubbish we throw away, recyclable trash to be precise, is actually a blessing in disguise!”
Mubvumbi is in the recycling business and says the idea is to take the project nationwide.
Old newspapers, magazines, plastics and glass are so easily chucked away in wheelie bins to be hauled away to landfills.
These recyclable items can be an extra income for schools and even an employment opportunity.
Mubvumbi says Atlantis and its immediate surroundings are chosen in a pilot phase before the programme encourages locals to take part.
“The project involves schools encouraging learners to bring recyclable waste to school, in turn the school sells the waste to recyclers and the school keeps the money,” he explains.
“This initiative is easy to implement, is self-managing, and participating schools will be provided with necessary recycling bins, basic training, information on pricing, contact details of recyclers/collectors and any other necessary support.”
He says the benefits to schools include:
. Schools starting to earn a perpetual passive income to supplement their meagre budgets
. A hands-on and practical approach for learners in need emphasising the importance of recycling
. Stopping and reversing the effects of pollution on the environment, rivers, seas and oceans
. Creation of employment in the community
. Lowering operational costs of Recyclers/Collectors and growing recycling industry
. Establishment of a nationwide and worldwide platform from which to launch many other environmentally friendly efforts, eg afforestation, community clean ups, tree planting on Tree Planting Day, and so on.
Three local schools have already shown interest, and Mubvumbi says all necessary training and infrastructure will be provided to participating schools to help them get started.
Interested schools and organisations can contact Mubvumbi on 081 576 1029, or on WhatsApp, or send an email to cecilmubvumbi@yahoo.com.
