Turning Eldos’s illegal waste site into urban green space

The recently launched Heineken Green Zone (HGZ) project at Eldorado Park has not only united the community but it presented a major opportunity for community development driven by local residents.

Heineken working together with The Greenpop Foundation (TGF) and Go Green Go Clean (GGCC), a local non-profit organisation based at Eldorado Park, successfully converted an illegal dumping site into a HGZ, located at GGGC, Epsom Ave and Dartmoor Ave in Extension 8.

HGZ project is a collaborative initiative between Heineken and TGF, it aims to create urban green spaces in under-resourced communities in major South African cities, incorporating grassy recreation areas, biodiversity gardens and waste reduction-focused art installations.

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According to Chris Nash, the Urban Greening Project Manager for Greenpop and Bhavna Mistry, and Senior Brand Manager at Heineken, green zones are designed to promote community health, well-being and environmental awareness in previously neglected or underserved areas.

The Eldorado Park HGZ was officially unveiled in the presence of community members on March 14.

Nash said the new addition of the HGZ to the GGCC space can accommodate up to 500 people.

“The GGCC is Eldorado Park’s first tourist attraction and offers an inspirational story of community led urban greening, creating economic opportunities to host tour groups.

“Increased cleanliness and beauty expressed through the mural walk, biodiversity gardens and infrastructure, improve safety and are expected to positively impact property prices, and community wellbeing,” said Nash.

He further noted that one of the key objectives of this project was to promote a sustainable culture in the surrounding community and, in the end, turn fields green with grass instead of glass.

“The HGZ project also aligns with Heinken’s global and local’s broader sustainability efforts by addressing glass pollution through the introduction of 650ml returnable glass bottles.

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“By establishing Green Zones and organising community clean-up events, Heineken aims to contribute to environmental sustainability, reduce waste, and promote community-driven, just, and sustainable development,” he continued.

“Lastly, inspiring community art works at the HGZ and biodiversity gardens highlighting indigenous plants of medicinal and cultural value, enhancing the Khoi Heritage.

“Theme expressed through the space nurtured by Eldorado Park residents has further improved the neighbourhood.”

Nash explained that this was conducted in an effort to reduce poverty, stimulate local entrepreneurship like market days to keep young people in the community proactive with recreational activities and promote food security in the community.

He said to date more than R500 000 has been invested into Eldorado Park’s HGZ and an additional budget was also allocated towards capacity building in support of the long-term growth and sustainability of the GGCC initiative.

Beyond the individual HGZ, Heineken has spent R2.3 billion on its returnable bottling programme in South Africa, to ensure fields remain green with grass not glass.

Nash is confident that the HGZ will help reduce crime in the area as he noted that it has been seen that by cleaning and greening dilapidated spaces, safety is improved in the surrounding areas.

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He said by improving the sense of pride and working collaboratively with local stakeholders, community cohesion and a sense of pride within the community has increased.

“The HGZ project also included installation of solar spot-lights in the HGZ, while collaborating with the local community patrol groups to patrol and monitor the site, all contributing towards increased safety and security in the area,” he concluded.