Are South African businesses and municipalities ready to make sustainable waste management decisions? The new National Environmental Management Waste Amendment Act, Act 26 of 2014 (NEMWAA 2014) published on 02 June 2014, is facilitating a shift towards new developments and better processes in the industry – something all organisations should be aware of. At this year’s … [Read more...]
New partnership to encourage Southern Cape recycling
The Eden district is on board for serious recycling and waste minimisation, setting a cool example of the way forward for the Southern Cape area. “PETCO is delighted to experience the beginning of a working partnership between Eden District and PETCO in our efforts to minimise waste and to encourage recycling in the Southern Cape area,” says the company’s CEO, Cheri … [Read more...]
Tyre recycling sets off on road to environmental sustainability
A five-year initiative to create a sustainable industry to recycle millions of scrapped tyres every year, is making progress and attracting international interest. Estimates of the number of abandoned tyres lying across South Africa range from 60-million to 100-million. Another 11-million or so are added to the stockpile each year as vehicle owners buy new ones. Many of … [Read more...]
Food waste composting curbs climate change
When are we going to stop sending our food waste to landfills, where it emits dangerous methane gas contributing to climate change? One local entrepreneur is doing just that and enabling the return to the eons-old circular systems by which nature has always recycled organic matter. And so challenging our wasteful linear ways of thinking about and treating our planet's … [Read more...]
Sort according to colours for better recycling business
How will recyclers weather current challenges on the ground, like a lack of access to markets and buyers of their materials? These and other crucial issues faced in the recycling sector were discussed and information shared during a workshop hosted by PETCO in Polokwane on 3 July 2014. The well attended workshop was aimed at sharing information about waste management and … [Read more...]
Defy the rules and change the world
“Don’t accept no for an answer. Defy the rules! It’s the only way we’re going to make the change.” This was the opening statement by Prof Gunter Pauli, Blue Economy entrepreneur from Belgium, who was the keynote speaker at the international Student Environmental Network summit hosted by the Stellenbosch University. He has written 20 books, published in 34 languages, … [Read more...]
Sustainability Week brings lively debate to green issues
Another stellar line-up of conferences, seminars and public lectures took place at this year’s Sustainability Week (17 to 19 June 2014), at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Pretoria. The Tshwane Green Outreach Programme was launched on Tuesday, 17 June 2014 as Councillor Kgosientso Ramokgopa (left), Executive Mayor of Tshwane, explained the city’s vision for 2055. … [Read more...]
Are we happy with our direction?
How to break through with the crucial story of our time? One creative way is by means of an animation you simply have to see. Brace yourself for Man, created in Flash and After Effects. This deeply honest and no-nonsense rendition of our relationship with the natural world cuts to the chase. Created by Steve Cutts in 2012, this video addresses crucial environmental … [Read more...]
An eco logical approach to packaging
Like packaging, which preserves and protects products, Nampak preserves and protects the environment against the impact of packaging manufacture and waste. “As Africa’s largest and most diversified packaging company, we participate in extensive recycling initiatives and continue to invest significant resources into the development of more sustainable products so that … [Read more...]
Washington student paves the way with fryer oil
The heat, the petroleum fumes… No one likes to be stuck behind an asphalt paving truck on a sweltering summer day. But, for the last 100 years, asphalt has played an integral role in building a strong American economy, keeping us all connected via our sprawling, easily accessible web of national roadways. So, imagine the relief and celebration if hot asphalt instead served up … [Read more...]
Schools cut down on waste while helping the needy
The Polystyrene Council is driving a dynamic marketing and awareness campaign of its various charity projects to schools across Gauteng. According to PSPC Director, Adri Spangenberg, twenty new schools have committed themselves during the month of March alone to collecting breadtags and other products made from high impact polystyrene, such as polystyrene take-away trays and … [Read more...]
Waste management a priority for C40’s African cities
Ricardo Cepeda-Marquez, the Director of C40’s Solid Waste Initiative, finds C40’s African cities taking action -- and eager to share knowledge to improve solid waste management. Following a successful C40 Mayors Summit in Johannesburg, the Director of C40’s Solid Waste Initiative, Ricardo Cepeda-Marquez and C40 Africa Regional Director Hastings Chikoko met with three of … [Read more...]
New labels make recycling easier for customers
In an industry first, Woolworths has initiated and introduced a new on-pack recycling label (OPRL), intended to assist recycling efforts by making it easier for customers to recycle correctly, while stimulating the growth of the recycling sector. Woolworths was motivated to develop the new recycling labels after feedback from customers revealed that the industry symbols … [Read more...]
