MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services Michael Sun commemorates World Recycling Day
Johannesburg - Michael Sun’s day started by sorting plastic and paper from his own home. He and his family do this every day.
And then the MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services was off to Ivory Park to commemorate World Recycling Day.
According to the UN, the increasing volume and complexity of waste associated with the modern economy poses a serious risk to ecosystems and human health.
Every year, an estimated 11.2 billion tons of solid waste is collected worldwide, releasing decay of the organic proportion of solid waste that contributes about 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Of all the waste streams, waste from electrical and electronic equipment containing new and complex hazardous substances presents the fastest-growing challenge in both developed and developing countries.
One of the solutions to this problem is the minimisation of waste. Where waste cannot be avoided, recovery of materials and energy from waste, as well as remanufacturing and recycling waste into usable products, should be implemented. Recycling leads to substantial savings in resources and job creation.
“Ivory Park can set an example to the rest of the City of Joburg by starting with small steps to keep the streets clean, and we can educate each other not to litter. We must not look down on recycling opportunities as there are huge value and financial rewards in this business. We need to extend these opportunities to Ivory Park and many other parts of the city,” said Sun.
The MMC commended the efforts of Maru Recycling Company, which launched a recycling site to assist local and global efforts to derive value from recyclable materials and preserve the Earth’s natural resources.
“The City of Joburg’s contribution to global recycling efforts can be seen in the various programmes undertaken and the huge amounts of waste that are diverted away from landfill sites (which have a lifespan of about five years) thanks to the efforts and contributions of the city’s waste pickers.
“With recyclers at every intersection in the city, we mean business when it comes to reducing pollution, keeping the environment clean and extending the lifespan of the city’s landfills,” said Sun.
The city will also celebrate the start of National Water Week on Tuesday.
“A positive behavioural change by consumers will ensure the sustainability of accessible and safe human consumption of water in the future. This can be achieved through collaborating with residents of the city by actively participating in behaviours that help preserve water resources: not leaving taps running, preventing illegal connections to water infrastructure, and avoiding acts of tampering with water meters.
“Flushing down non-degradable and other items in the toilet adds to the challenges of sewerage system blockages that often result in sewer water streaming down the streets, posing a health hazard to residents.
“These actions often result in burst pipes, water leakages, sewage blockages, and the wastage of huge amounts of drinkable water. It costs the city millions of rand every year to replace and fix these damages, some of which take longer to repair, leaving residents and health facilities without water for long periods. We urge residents to take ownership of the city’s scarce resources and help preserve water,” Sun said.