Recycling can be a habit, not a chore

To mark National Recycling Week, Pikitup – the City of Johannesburg’s waste management utility – has called on all Johannesburg residents to take part in its various recycling initiatives, including the “separation at source” programme, to contribute to a cleaner and healthier environment.

The “separation at source” programme – which is aimed at diverting recyclable waste away from landfill sites, thereby creating livelihoods for others – entails residents using three separate receptacles to store their waste in until such time that it is collected.

The normal 240-litre black refuse bin is used only for non-recyclable household waste, while the two extra bags are utilised for recycling waste. The clear, durable plastic bag is for recycling glass, bottles, polystyrene materials, cans and plastics; whereas the reusable white hessian bag is for recycling all paper, boxes and cardboard materials.

These bags are provided weekly free of charge by cooperatives.

The programme not only encourages residents to recycle their household refuse, but it also promotes job creation through the exchange of money for recyclable waste.

In total, more than 486 000 households in the city are covered by the programme, which got off the ground at the Waterval Depot in Region B in September 2009.

In the 2013-2014 financial year alone, more than 14 000 tons of recycled waste was successfully diverted away from landfill sites. However, this represents only 17% of residents’ participation.

Despite this, 24 cooperatives have already been set up and 519 job opportunities created.

Pikitup’s acting Managing Director, Jonathan Thekiso, agrees that the current residents’ participation is way too low. He aims to increase it to 70% by 2016.

It is against this background that Thekiso calls for more and more residents to take part in the programme.

There are other ways in which residents can contribute to a cleaner and healthier environment. The following are some of them:

Before you even think about recycling, what should come to mind first is reducing waste and reusing whatever you can at home;

If there are purchases you have to make for the household, then think pre-cycling.

Pre-cycling is about looking out for and buying products that can be recycled;

Buy products that use recycled materials in the product itself or in the packaging to complete the recycling loop. Only when there is demand for recycled products would there be demand for recyclables;

Other than recycling, you can adopt other green practices, such as reducing the amount of harmful chemicals you release into the environment by switching to natural cleaners that are biodegradable and do not harm the water supply or the environment; and

Use environmentally sound products because they do minimal harm to the environment.

Extend green practices to your family

Encourage everyone in your family to play a part in recycling at home;

Help them understand the importance of recycling by showing them that it can be easy and hassle-free; and

Encourage them to look out for the items that can be reused or recycled, instead of throwing them away. Offer to send the recyclables they have collected for recycling, when you send yours.

After a while, recycling will become a habit, instead of a chore.

Implement the three Rs: Reduce, reuse and recycle.

Reduce

• Plan a shopping list to prevent purchasing on impulse;

• Buy products that will not go out of fashion quickly;

• Buy things with less packaging;

• Buy things in bulk quantities e.g. one large box of breakfast cereal instead of two small ones;

• Buy durable items that will last you a long time e.g. rechargeable battery;

• Buy refillable items e.g. dish washing liquid;

• Borrow, share and/or hire things that you only need occasionally;

• Bring a shopping bag while shopping instead of requesting for plastic bags;

• Use cloth instead of paper tissue for cleaning;

• Minimise the use of disposable items such as disposable crockery, non-rechargeable batteries etc;

• Store perishable food e.g. bread, fruits in refrigerator;

• Cook just sufficient food for meals;

• Pack breakfast or lunch in washable container instead of a one-time one;

• Write to the respective organisation/s if other members of the family receive the same reading material; and

• Call the respective organisation/s to remove your address from their mailing list to prevent junk mail.

Reuse

• Reuse used glass and plastic containers as receptacles;

• Use unwanted plastic bags to store garbage;

• Use old clothing as rags for cleaning;

• Convert scrap paper into memo pads;

• Pass old textbooks, story books, and toys to others;

• Pass smaller size but good quality clothing to others;

• Donate good quality but unwanted items to old folks’ homes, charitable organisations etc;

• Repair and recondition faulty electronic appliances to extend their useful lives; and

• Clean and reuse ornaments for the next festive celebration.

Recycle

• Make recycled paper at home and decorate it for use as a greeting card or wrapping paper;

• Segregate recyclable items for collection by waste collectors;

• Participate in recycling programme/s and deposit recyclable items into designated recycling bins;

• Buy recycled products; and

• Buy recycling labelled products.

GRASS-CYCLING

Grass-cycling is the practice of leaving grass clippings on the lawn or using them as mulch. Grass clippings are over 80% water, so they decompose quickly and release nitrogen and other nutrients back into the lawn and soil naturally, thereby improving lawn quality. Grass clippings add water-saving mulch and encourage natural soil aeration by earthworms:

Forget those long-held beliefs that grass clippings left on a lawn smother the grass underneath or cause thatch. Grass clippings are actually good for the lawn. From now on, don’t bag your lawn clippings: “grass cycle” them.

Grass-cycling is a simple, easy opportunity for every homeowner to do something good for the environment. Grass-cycling is a responsible environmental practice and an opportunity for all homeowners to reduce their waste.