Cleaning up our act
The Cape Winelands District Municipality’s (CWDM’s) Technical Services division hosted a seminar to address the contentious topic of waste management.
Throughout the world the issue is raised about what to do with all the waste we create and how to manage it. Waste has a bad reputation and is blamed for climate change and its affect on our oceans and other natural resources, amongst other things. In the Cape Winelands our landfill sites are close to reaching full capacity.
Mayor Elna von Schlicht, the Executive Mayor of the CWDM, stated in her address, “There is a famous quote about trees that also applies to waste. The original reads, ‘The best time to plant a tree was 25 years ago, the second-best time is now’. We should have been doing something about waste a very long time ago, however it is up to all of us to do something about it now.”
The topics at the summit were diverse and included illegal dumping, organic waste diversion, the waste economy and the options available for energy production and rail transport. Presentations were made by each local municipality on the current state of waste management services in their areas.
In attendance were representatives from various units of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning who shared their knowledge. Bianca Galego of ZUTARI explained the various options that are available in respect of organic waste diversion for the district.
The Municipal Manager Henry Prins concluded by sharing the way forward to ensure that waste in the Cape Winelands is addressed in a manner that is not only legislatively correct and adds value to the municipalities, but more importantly, in a manner that improves the quality of life for all in the district.
Hou op mors, jors
Die Kaapse Wynland Distriksmunisipaliteit (KWDM) se Tegniese Dienste-afdeling het ’n seminaar oor die omstrede onderwerp van afvalbestuur gehou. Kwessies waaroor gesprek gevoer is, is onwettige storting, herleiding van organiese afval, die afvalekonomie en die opsies wat vir energieproduksie en spoorvervoer beskikbaar is. Stortingsterreine in die Kaapse Wynlande nader volle kapasiteit en aangesien afval tot klimaatsverandering bydra en ’n nadelige uitwerking op ons oseane en ander natuurlike hulpbronne het, is dit tyd om met erns ons afval van die stortingsterrein weg te hou.
