Very often when organizations decide to start a recycling program the first thing they do is buy new recycling containers. Which is all good-and-well – but, if they don’t change their culture first they are wasting their money. The container – be it a wheelie bin, office bin or specialized recycling bin – is necessary
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Whilst South Africa’s waste industry is massive in terms of job creation the recycling industry will soon be bigger. A mere twenty years ago there was no recycling industry. Now it appears that, in terms of employment, it will soon be bigger than the waste management industry. Few people are aware of the difference between
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Organic waste is set to be the next big waste stream to be attacked. In its drive to clean up the environment the South African government has targeted organic waste. In addition to agricultural and garden waste this includes abattoir waste, sewerage waste and food waste amongst others. Organic waste is bad because it decomposes
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A lot of us think that fresh vegetables come in little Styrofoam trays and packets from the supermarket, with neatly embossed recycling icons. What we don’t see is how they are produced and there are some things the producers don’t want us to see. Take commercial farming; at most stages of growing a crop the
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We seem to be winning some battles but have we already lost the war? If one believes the pilot of a mini submarine the plastic waste is now lying on the bottom of the ocean. Apart from the environmental damage this is causing, the danger is that nano-plastic particles are now in the food chain.
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Most recycling materials are simple and some are just plain difficult. Cardboard, paper, plastic, tin and glass are easy to recycle – just put them in a bag and away they go. Other materials including ewaste, tyres and laminated products are more complicated. That is why they tend to hang around in ever growing piles.
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Food waste may not be sexy but that doesn’t mean we can’t talk about it. Mid-morning chat shows openly discuss sex and yet it seems society is reluctant to talk about food waste. Whether it stems from the childhood admonitions to finish the food on our plate, or the shame of wasting food amidst so
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Despite having been around for many years recycling is still in its infancy. It is growing strongly and although it follows overseas experience in some respects, I believe we in South Africa will ultimately develop our own African model. How will this model look and how will recycling look in 10 and 20 years from
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As long as mankind continues on its present path there will be waste – most of us love the toys and we consume way more than we should. And for long there is waste there will be a need for a recycling service. Recycling separates the general waste from the materials, which although they may
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Choosing not to drink and drive is an intelligent but not always easy or popular choice. Recycling is also a choice and one which is easier to make and becoming more popular. Both are good choices for the individual and for society as a whole. The main difference between organizations which manage to recycle and
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