WasteNothing Challenge launched with great cash prizes!
The WasteNothing Knysna programme launched a competition on Tuesday with prizes totalling R20 000 to be won.
Sue Swain from BioWise said they are looking for ingenious, original, practical and implementable ideas or designs ‘on how to not waste any resources. “There are four categories we are focusing on, being water-wise, waste-wise, space-wise and energy-wise. The emphasis of the programme is on not wasting as opposed to wise utilization.”
She said participants can enter by choosing one of the specified categories, but they are allowed to enter more than one category as well.
“In the water-wise category we are looking for new, innovative ways to harvest, save, re-use, and to slow, spread and sink, or plant, the rain. In the waste-wise category the team is looking for new and innovative ways of reducing our waste to landfill. This can include innovative, unique and new upcycling ideas or cleverly constructed, useful bottle brick structures.”
Swain said new and innovative ways to use space are what they are looking for in the space-wise category. “In nature every nook and cranny is used in a multi-functional and regenerative way. Every level in a forest has a role to play – how do we mimic this in the spaces that surround us?”
The last category is focusing on energy. “Do we access freely available, clean, naturally renewable sources of energy where we can? Can we improve on current concepts that are available? These are the questions we want the participants to think about,” said Swain.
She said the first prize for each category is R3 000 cash, and the runner-up in each category will receive a weekend away for 2 in the Garden route area to the value of R2 000. “Extra points will be given for materials used that are current waste products – the more upcycled materials used, the better.”
Swain said the competition is closing at 17:00 on the 21st of September. “Please visit our Facebook page, WasteNothingKnysna, for the terms and conditions and how to enter. If you do not have access to Facebook, or for enquiries, please contact Keagon on 082 950 9388 or email.”
“The aim of the challenge is to make people think about how we do things,” said Swain. “Look at nature for inspiration – every organism has a role to play, actively contributing to maintaining a healthy, resilient system able to respond and adapt to changing conditions….a system where there is no pollution and no unemployment. I also want to thank the National Lottery Commission as it is their funding support that makes it possible for us to run the programme, and the competition.”