Shedding light on city’s orange bag recycling project

EDITOR – Does anyone know what’s happening with the orange bags?

They haven’t been collected for four weeks.

The same thing happened last year so once again we’re getting a build-up of orange bags which tempts people to just put the plastic in with their refuse, which defeats the objective of recycling plastic.

Also does anyone know where we can recycle batteries and flourescent lights? Pick ‘n Pay used to have bins but no longer does. Recycling is so important for the environment, so we need to have the means to do it properly.

CINDY WILLIS

Ed’s note:

According to information provided to the Sun, the city’s orange bag recycling project, which was shelved due to tender irregularities, is due to kickstart soon after R9.9-m was approved from the Ethekwini Municipality’s emergency funding budget.

The disposal of household waste with the environment in mind is hopefully set to resume before the festive season kicks off.

The funds have been approved and a supplier identified. By the end of November, the bag supply should be secured and hopefully meet the quality and quantity required. Focus will then move to securing the collection of the bags. It is hoped that the original collectors of the bags – who have been without work for such a time – are ready and able to return to duty once the bags arrive.

The Sun will stay on top of developments on this front and advise once confirmation is received about the resumption of the project. Until then, committed recyclers would do well to take their plastic and paper items to the municipal garden refuse dump sites, where there should be receptacles for this purpose.