Residents get down and dirty in Jukskei River
MIDRAND - More than 20 volunteers turned up to clean up part of the Jukskei River in Buccleuch.
This initiative was organised by Plastics SA and the volunteers were provided with gloves and garbage bags.
Sustainability manager of Plastics SA, Jacques Lightsoot said, “We organised the clean-up and invited our sponsors Coca Cola, Wayne Plastics, Ellerine Holding Trust Fund, a recycling company Petco and African Bank. This is a registered clean-up and we chose the Jukskei River because it is full of all sorts of litter.”
A representative of Coca Cola, Marcia Samasuwo said, “Our company has initiatives for coastal clean-ups. When Plastics SA invited us to the in-land clean-up we were very excited.”
Brand For Change managing director, Gareth James also partnered with Plastics SA for the project. James said, “Our company makes flip-flop sandals and supports recycling. We have collaborated with Plastics SA to have educational campaigns on environmental awareness and recycling.”
Desmond Pollock, a Mozambique activist, came to South Africa to help with the initiative. He said, “All plastics and litter go to the ocean and kill marine life. We have to protect the planet, I am here on behalf of a campaign called Paddling for the life of Dugongs, an endangered species.
“During last year’s International Coastal Clean-up, volunteers picked up more than 4 536kg of almost every imaginable type of waste along the world’s shorelines.” Plastics SA is the official coordinator of the annual beach and river clean-ups that take place around the country.
