Community, govt promote healthy environment

Parents should teach their children about the importance of recycling so that they will grow into exceptional adults with a strong desire to live in a clean environment. This was the plea made by Executive Mayor of Capricorn District Municipality (CDM), John Mpe on Friday during the launch of the Department of Environmental Affairs’ Good Green Deeds campaign at Westenburg hall in Polokwane on Friday.
The campaign, conceptualised by the late Minister of Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa, was aimed at promoting a clean and healthy environment free of litter and illegal dumping.
Mpe, standing in for Premier Stan Mathabatha and Economic Development, Environment and Tourism MEC, Seaparo Sekoati, stressed that they would want to see learners at various primary and secondary schools in the province remaining behind for at least 30 minutes after school to ensure that all waste and litter is put into waste-bins every day. “This will instil a sense of responsibility within our youth. We further invite our municipalities to constantly educate members of the public on the negative effects of illegal dumping, air pollution as well as littering,” Mpe said.
He added that the campaign also encouraged law enforcement officials to take drastic measures against all those who throw bottles, plastic or papers out of car windows. “We can no longer afford to accommodate such trashy and unlawful behaviour. The campaign will support heavy fines for all those who dump trash illegally as well as on those industries which illegally dump hazardous materials within out surroundings,” Mpe emphasised.
He further stated that the proper implementation of the campaign can contribute positively to an increase in waste services within our communities. “Community adoption of the Good Green Deeds campaign will result in less littering, reduced illegal dumping as well as responsible waste dumping by industries. The province has managed to ensure that all local municipality disposal areas are licensed excluding Collins Chabane Municipality. This will ensure that as waste is collected and littering minimized waste is disposed in well-engineered landfill facilities. We will be visiting various businesses to evaluate their efforts in keeping our environment clean,”Mpe said.
The campaign saw Mpe, joined by members of his mayoral committee and members of the Westenburg community collecting waste in the main streets and open areas for recycling.

Story: Herbert Rachuene
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