Recycling Park launched in Atteridgeville
The City of Tshwane, in partnership with New GX Enviro, launched the Atteridgeville recycling park on 9 November 2016. The facility was officially opened by the Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Cllr Solly Msimanga, and the CEO of New GX Enviro, Mr Khudu Pitje.
Atteridgeville Recycling Park (ARP) is situated at Maunde Street in Atteridgeville next to the closed Kwaggasrand landfill site. Everyone can make use of the facility to recycle paper, plastic, bottles and cans.
According to Mr Pitje, the facility is one of the first large-scale projects in the waste management sector in the country. He said it is vital for him to give back to the community because he was raised by his father who was an economic activist. The recycling park is one of the many programmes through which he gives back to the community.
The park characterises the economic initiative for township revitalisation promoted by the Gauteng MEC for Economic Development, Mr Lebogang Maile. This initiative will create formal and informal jobs as well as bring opportunities to SMME businesses in Tshwane.
The recycling programme, known as “Boa gape”, will be rolled out in phases to certain zones of Regions 3 and 4. As part of the City’s commitment to a green economy, the recycling park will divert 65% of recyclable waste in certain areas in Tshwane from landfills, giving tons of recyclable material a second life and promoting the value of waste in the economy.
After 15 years, New GX Enviro will transfer ownership of the facility to the City at no cost. The programme will assist the City to achieve the government’s target of a 34% reduction in carbon emissions by 2020 and 42% by 2025.
The CEO of Mpact, Mr Bruce Strong, was pleased with the project and indicated that the recycling park clearly demonstrates the importance of private-public partnership.
In his closing remarks, Cllr Msimanga appealed to Tshwane residents to use the facility to recycle cans, paper, bottles, etc.