Think Twice - The City's Environmental Initiative: Waste Separation at Source - Launched in Pinelands and Parts of Blaauwberg

Cape Town produces five to six thousand tons of waste per day - to which each individual contributes an average of two kilograms - and the City is fast running out of suitable landfill sites.

At the moment there are only three landfill sites - Vissershok, Bellville and Coastal Park near Muizenberg. All are close to their maximum holding capacity. Such is the rate at which Capetonians are producing waste, that a site which used to take 20 years to fill, now takes only half that time.

Of this waste, only 14% is recycled.

In an attempt to contain the ever increasing amount of recyclable waste going to the landfill sites, the Solid Waste Management Department of the City of Cape Town, assisted by its appointed service providers - Hlumani Wasteman, Millenium Waste Management and Marthinus Waste Removal - initiated a pilot project called THINK TWICE:PHIND' CINGE:DINK TWEE MAAL.

This initiative forms part of an holistic Waste Management Strategy which encourages selected households to work with the City by separating their waste into recyclable and non-recyclable components. While these projects are driven by the Solid Waste Management Department, they are implemented by the service providers.

On 13 August 2007 the pilot project "Think Twice" was launched in the following areas:

SOUTHERN SUBURBS: Hout Bay, Glencairn, Fish Hoek and Kommetjie
HELDERBERG AREA: Strand North, Gordon's Bay, North-eastern Somerset West and North-western Somerset West
DELFT AND MFULENI AREA: Delft and Mfuleni
BROWN'S FARM AND PHILIPPI: Brown's Farm, Philippi, Weltevreden etc.

Melkbosstrand, Bloubergstrand, Parklands and Pinelands in the City's Atlantic area have joined the "THINK TWICE" campaign. Residents will, by now, have received their own door-to-door delivery of recyclable material holders that will subsequently be collected by WastePlan, the City's partnering service provider in these areas.

It includes starter packs and all the necessary information on the project and its benefits. The clear plastic bags provided must be used for dry waste. Dry waste includes all recyclables such as clean and dry paper, cardboard, plastic shopping bags, containers, bottles, glass and tin cans. Glass bottles should be rinsed and clean. No broken glass must be included. Cardboard should be folded and flattened. Newspapers must be folded and compressed. Metal containers must be cleaned and, where possible, compressed.

Please ensure that all wet waste such as kitchen scraps, pet faeces and any other non-recyclable waste such polystyrene, tetra packs (e.g. long life milk cartons) or disposable nappies, are placed in the bottom of the bin.

Garden refuse (i.e. leaves, grass cuttings etc.) should be taken to the nearest waste drop-off facility and all hazardous waste should be taken to the nearest hazardous landfill site or facility.

Clear bags must be placed inside the bin on top of the other wet, non-recyclable waste for weekly collection on the scheduled refuse removal day. This bag is collected by a different truck which takes the recyclables to a special sorting facility.

For further information residents of Melkbosstrand, Bloubergstrand, Parklands and Pinelands can contact:

CITY OF CAPE TOWN:
Call Centre: 0860 103 089
Fax: 021 400 4302
Email: wastewise.user@capetown.gov.za
Website: http://www.capetown.gov.za/

Atlantic Area Acting Manager:
Pieter Thiart: 021 442 8103

SERVICE PROVIDER:
Call Centre: 0860 456 786
WastePlan
Bertie Lourens: 083 229 7332
Website: http://www.wasteplan.co.za

Issued by:
Directorate: Communication
City of Cape Town
Tel: 021 400 2201

Media Queries:
Tseko Magubane
Acting Manager: Collections
Tel: 021 400 5256
Cell: 084 961 5637