Everyone can do their bit to help save the plant by recycling organic waste such as food, gardening refuse, wood, paper and materials that can be placed in a home compost bin to decompose into nutrient-rich soil.
South Africa celebrates National Recycling Day on Friday and people are encouraged to recycle their orgranic waste said chairperson of the Organics Recycling Association of South Africa (ORASA), Melanie Ludwig.
She said organic waste that ends up in a landfill produces methane.
“It is a greenhouse gas that negatively contributes to climate change. Organic waste should go back into our soil, by composting it. This way we can start reversing climate change.”
Alternatively, the City of Cape Town has 26 recycling and waste drop-off sites. See https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/See-all-city-facilities/Our-service-facilities/Drop-off%20facilities
ORASA is encouraging South Africans to reduce the amount of waste they produce.
“They should not waste food, compost where possible and start a worm farm,” Ludwig said.
Ludwig said more than 40% of all waste delivered to landfills is organic waste.
“By recycling our organic waste into compost, we have the power to reverse climate change and replenish the health of our soils,” she said.
She added: “Households can easily practice home composting to produce compost that can be used in their gardens.”
The department of environmental affairs and development planning will introduce a Western Cape organics landfill ban from the beginning of 2022. The ban will require a 50% reduction in organic waste in landfills with a 100% reduction by 2027.
The ban means that waste will need to be sorted before being disposed.
Ludwig said the government should make recycling a rule.
“We need refuse not to be collected unless it’s properly separated,” she said.
“There needs to be more awareness in minimising waste. When we go shopping we need minimal packaging and more consciousness.”