PROJECT
MEETING MINUTES
September 10th, 2009
10:00-11:30 AM
Red Barn. Rheenendal
“The
Litter/Garbage issue, the recycling opportunity…”
Purpose of meeting: To come together with
interested and concerned conservancy members to discuss concerns and opportunities
regarding the litter/garbage issue in Rheenendal.
Participants:
The issues:
§
Roadside litter
is a problem and no long-term solution has been implemented so far
§
The litter is not
only sourced from taxis who don’t want the garbage in the taxis but also from
residents who are putting garbage bags out on days when there is no
municipal/private pick up.
§
As a result the
bags are ripped open by dogs and monkeys and strewn every where
§
There are no bins
located along major taxi pick-up points
§
There is
currently NO recycling option as the current waste collection truck has NO
compartment for recyclable materials
§
The municipal
truck that picks up garbage in Rheenendal is coming from Sedgefield
§
The Sedgefield
recycling depot has closed down
§
The only running
recycling depot is in Knysna
§
Recycling is NOT
at all encouraged by the municipalities and this needs to change
§
The Knysna
Municipality has admitted that they are facing a mass green waste problem
§
Even though rates
and taxes have gone up there is no service delivery on behalf of the municipality
Solutions
discussed:
Ø The idea around litter needs to change
Ø Garbage outputs need to already be minimized at
home
Ø We can approach the litter issue in 3 ways:
1.
Either by
employing somebody to keep the roadside clear of litter and placing more bins
in relevant places
OR
2.
By placing more
pressure on the Municipality that we demand a truck with a separate compartment
in it for recyclets
OR
3.
By looking at
creative ways of recycling locally and the possibilities of job creation within
that
Ø There are plenty of examples of successful
recycling projects in and around Cape town and J’ohburg where recycling has
created jobs and changed the attitude towards garbage
Ø Jessie has researched these projects which are
run privately and are focused on setting up a community project around
collecting things such as tin cans and glass bottles which are either locally
transformed in to sellable crafts or sent to a major recycling depot. (see
project contacts)
Ø The large tin shed just outside of Keurhoek
could be a possible space for a community recycling project
Ø Feasibility needs to be addressed and a proper
business proposal will need to be laid out in order to further this solution
Ø Stacey from Mother Earthworms mentioned that
their worms love anything from paper, cardboard, and organic waste and that
they could easily deal with local volume of these materials.
Ø We would need appropriate bins for collection
of these items and a central point to place the bins. Portland Mini Market is a
good possibility.
Ø For people recycling these goods a barter
system could be set up whereby one receives free worm compost in exchange
Ø Mother Earthworms also would like plastic and
glass bottles which they use to bottle the worm compost in
Ø This localized recycling facility will help to
raise awareness around garbage and recycling, as will it also benefit a local
green business
Ø Pauline had been in touch with Deon from the
Portland Mini Market who has been very supportive of the recycling ideas. He
informed her that he contacted a private company that recycles glass to see if
it would be feasible for them to have a glass recycling bin in Rheenendal.
Conclusions/Decisions
made:
ü The Municipality needs to be made aware of our
efforts; especially with regard to funding possibilities for a community project
ü Somehow we need to “join hands” with the
Municipality, without having any expectations from them
ü We need to arrange a meeting with the Mayor of
Knysna to discuss our ideas and also to get information from them regarding
their responsibilities and support resources
ü The Mother Earthworms project needs to go
ahead: Stacey will provide a list of things the worms will eat and possible bin
dimensions
ü
A second meeting
needs to be organized once the meeting with the Mayor has taken place to
discuss further actions regarding funds for the Mother earthworms recycling
bins
ü
The chairman
of Farm Watch needs to be contacted
regarding meeting with Mayor
Actions so far….
Chairman of the conservancy, Howard Butcher, contacted the Mayor’s
office and got an appointment for Tuesday,
September 15th, at 2:00pm. That was quick! Conservancy executive
committee and other interested members will be meeting on Monday to consolidate
and finalize points that will need to be raised at the meeting.
For your interest…. Contacts for
recycling projects (thank you Jess!)
Bottle Craft SA (Bottle cutting machine/ consumables
suppliers and design ideas for glass bottle crafts)
Jo Kearney: jo@bottlecraft.co.za
Cell: 074 207 1721
(Jo Direct)
Postal Address: PO Box 3064,
Somerset West,
7129
Office contact info
Tel: 087 808 2223
Fax: 086 543 9208
For more info on BC:
info@bottlecraft.co.za
Collect a Can
KYALAMI (HEAD OFFICE)
Tel: 011 466-2939
Fax: 011 466-2941
Address:
5/13 Forssman Close
Barbeque Downs
Kyalami
Postal Address:
P O Box 30500
Kyalami
1684
Email: info@collectacan.co.za
Paperpickup (Mondi recycling)
Email: Ronnie_Recycler@mpsa.co.za
Tel: Cape Town (021) 931 5106
Buyisa e Bag (Project in north of SA – source of help
and info for multi recycling buy back centers)
Tel: +27 (11) 975 9933 Fax: +27 (11)
394 6592 Email: info@buyisaebag.co.za
Footprints Environmental Project (Wynberg) (Existing
depot)
Michelle Sholto – Douglas
Tel: 021 794 5586