Mohamed Ameen Dabhelia – 2018/06/27

If residents do not change their habits of disposing off their waste, Johannesburg MMC for Environmental Affairs Nico de Jager says the city will be forced to transport waste to a landfill site in Delmas Mpumulanga, where ultimately the consumer will have to bear the brunt of the transportation costs.

Residents will have to implement habits of recycling in their households from July 1st in order to reduce pollution and protect the environment.

De jager says residents will have to wash their recycable refuse, and dispose of it in bags provided by the city.

De Jager told Radio Islam that if Johannesburg residents do not change their recycling habits, landfill sites will reach its capacity by 2023.

“The process of recycling has now become mandatory on all households, there is no penalties at this time, and we are just pleading with all residents to comply”.

De Jager says the waste needs to be separated before it can be collected by Pikitup.

“What you will put in there is your paper, which is magazines, newspapers, bills, cardboard and NOT pizza boxes because those are contaminated, your plastics, including milk bottles, and your bottles from various detergents also your tins, like cold drink tins, canned fruit tins etc.”

Areas such as Lenasia, Norwood and Midrand have been part of the city’s pilot project and will continue to provide these areas with blue bags for recycling.

Listen to full interview with Nico De Jager below: