The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) is making strides in turning around the Korsten central business district through a new recycling project aimed at stopping illegal dumping and improving waste management. The project encourages local business owners to manage their waste properly instead of dumping it illegally.
A team of 13 workers, employed through the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s (DFFE) Cleaning and Greening programme, is stationed along Durban Road. They collect waste from shop to shop for recycling and assist businesses in better managing their waste.
Running for the past three months, this initiative is a partnership between the NMBM, DFFE, the NMB Business Chamber, the East African Business Forum, and local recycling company, Noziqhamo. NMBM’s Public Health portfolio head, Councillor Thsonono Buyeye, described the project as a positive step towards encouraging residents to see waste as a valuable resource. “We’ve had ongoing challenges with keeping the Korsten CBD clean, and it became clear that the business owners needed to be part of the solution. Since the project started, we’ve seen some positive change. Waste management requires behavioural changes if we want to see long-term impact. Although there’s still a long way to go, the recycling project is a great start, with all stakeholders contributing resources,” MMC Buyeye said.
The team primarily collects cardboard and plastic waste, which is bought by Noziqhamo. The recycling company shares the data with NMBM and pays the DFFE participants for the material collected. Business owners have been praised for actively participating in the project by not only putting their waste out in designated areas but also sorting it according to categories.
Local business owner Adbiaziz Mohamed noted the positive impact. “Before the project, we struggled with waste piling up, but now the streets are a bit cleaner. People used to dump waste everywhere, but now we’re working together, and it’s making a difference,” Mohamed said.
Team leader Samantha Geldenhuys highlighted the added benefit of earning extra income from Noziqhamo. “We work as a team, and whatever we get paid for, we share among ourselves. It’s a good way to show people how recycling can help the environment and their pockets. We’re also seeing the difference it’s making in Korsten,” Geldenhuys said.
This successful project will serve as a model for similar waste management initiatives across Nelson Mandela Bay.
Info from: NMBM
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