The absence of formal waste-management systems in the majority of South Africa’s townships and formal settlements has resulted in a massive build-up of litter and waste in these areas and beyond. This situation has had a major impact on the quality of life of the people living in those areas.
The National Department of Public Works (NDPW) and the South African Breweries (SAB) have joined forces to implement The Clean and Green Programme in seven provinces throughout the country. The Independent Development Trust (IDT) has been brought on board to provide management support services for this programme.
The NDPW has provided R10-million towards the implementation of the programme, and the SAB will provide R1-million for programme management.
The programme is intended to address the social development backlog in previously disadvantaged communities, in particular where profound shortages of waste collection systems or services and a lack of environmental awareness are prevalent.
The Clean and Green Programme is not a “handout” programme, but a capacity-building exercise which will deliver a cost-effective community-driven programme that benefits the people through a cleaner environment and ultimately a better quality of life.
Key to this process is the active participation of municipalities at all stages of the programme to ensure their “buy in” and take-over of the programme in the long term. Commitment to take over the programme is required from each local authority to ensure continuity of service provision in the area that was not previously serviced.
The programme is being implemented in the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Province, North West and Western Cape. Each province, except Free State, has two project areas and 74 496 houses are serviced for a period of 12 months. Each project area is involved performing three activities: a public awareness campaign, cleaning and greening activities.
The recycling activity was later introduced as an equally important component.
Clean and Green employs SMMEs (small, medium and micro enterprises), project leaders, supervisors and one-person contractors (OPCs), who are drawn from the communities being serviced within the seven provinces via direct appointment and pre-qualification advertisements for all participants.
The aims of The Clean and Green Programme include:
Rehabilitating the environment through encouragement, education and empowerment of identified communities, helping them to improve their doorstep environment by means of specific projects related to the monitoring and management of waste.
Reducing unemployment during the project cycle and, where possible, through broader economic activities.
Avoiding the creation of dependence and indigence commonly associated with anti-poverty welfare programmes.
Strengthening relationships between communities and local authorities.
Empowering communities to monitor and manage an effective, affordable and sustainable waste system.
The programme comprises three components, with the following objectives:
The Cleaning component
To collect refuse on a weekly basis from an average of 5 730 identified households within a specified geographic location or area.
To clean up the surrounding areas, eg streets and pathways.
To maintain and clean open public spaces of refuse.
The Greening component
To identify target land areas for park creation.
To identify the number and type of flora for planting.
To plant a number of trees and hectares of lawn in the target area.
To train personnel regarding the planting and care of the flora.
To conduct a recycling programme.
The Public Awareness Campaign
To conduct community workshops and cultural activities to promote the campaign within the community.
To conduct an awareness programme regarding refuse collection and maintenance of a clean and healthy environment.