Many hands make the environment clean

Participants met behind the Benoni Junction Shopping Centre/BP Garage, between Tom Jones and Bunyan streets and cleaned up the grounds around the freeway off-ramp.

In association with National Recycling Week, the aim of the clean-up was to clear the area, which is affected by illegal dumping, and to educate the community about the importance of keeping the environment clean.

Members of the forum, Gold One International, the environmental officer, volunteers from the Birchwood Hotel and O R Tambo Conference Centre, the Ekurhuleni Waste Department and members of the public took part in the initiative.

Miss Earth SA 2014, Ilzé Saunders, travelled from Potchefstroom to participate in the clean-up.

Saunders said she enjoys visiting various communities and taking part in even the smallest of environmental events.

The Ekurhuleni Environmental Forum, which was established by Ekurhuleni’s Environmental Resources Management two months ago, is a society in which members of the public can involved in solving environmental issues.

Comittee member Catherine Marques said the forum is not a complaint society.

“It is about obtaining constructive solutions for environmental problems,” she explained.

Gold One International and the Birchwood Hotel and O R Tambo Conference Centre sponsored lunch and refreshments for each participant.

Senior environmental officer of Gold One International Sibusiso Sidu said they are trying to collaborate with the metro on all environmental projects.

“This initiative might only be a drop in the ocean, but it is a start in getting out the message that the longer we litter, the more damage we do to our environment,” he added.

Environmental officer of the Birchwood Hotel and O R Tambo and O R Tambo Conference Centre Ngamndla Naki said she felt the focus point should be education.

“I feel very passionate about the environment and having the opportunity to interact with others who share in this is amazing,” she added.

A member of the Ekurhuleni Environmental Forum, Shelley Owens, said about 80 bags of litter were collected and removed by the Ekurhuleni Waste Department.

People who care for the environment and would like to join the Ekurhuleni Environmental Forum can do so by contacting Owens on 072 537 7158.