Interview with Alison Bryant: Plett Cleanup Campaign Founder

Date: March 18, 2015 | Posted in Interactive | Local Personalities | News | Plettenberg Bay News

Plett Cleanup Campaign Founder: Alison Bryant

ShowMe Plett had the privilege of meeting and interviewing Plett’s Clean Up Campaign founder, Alison Bryant.

The Plett Cleanup Campaign was started a year ago, and has since grown and begun cleaning and trimming the litter and weeds of Plett, making sure our paradise is kept up to standard and is well maintained. We have the Plett Cleanup Campaign to thank!

Tell me about the Plett Clean up Campaign, how did you first come up with this idea, what inspired you?

I started the Plett Cleanup Campaign because I began to notice that the town was looking shoddy… full of litter and weeds, and I thought to myself that this is a tourist town, we cannot have them coming into our town and seeing this, it is meant to be the Saint-Tropez of South Africa, the jewel of the Garden Route.

What has surprised you most about the Plett Clean up Campaign and the team?

Plett Cleanup Campaign – Some of the Team

What surprises me most is the team’s constant support and dedication into getting Plett Clean.

What might someone be surprised to know about you?

You know, I enjoy doing things for others out of the goodness of my heart, I am passionate and very driven about this town and its people.

What would you want to say to the people of Plett?

I would like to encourage people to take ownership of their surroundings, one cannot rely on others. If you see a piece of litter, it is not beneath you to pick it up. Spread awareness and take pride in the beautiful place we live.

What drives you to continue with the Plett Clean up Campaign?

Plett Rugby Team offering a helping hand

I have become obsessed with litter and a great team that keeps me motivated and are just as obsessed as I am. My right hand man, David Scott, is a huge help to me, as well as the rest of my team.

Another aspect that drives me, is when I see rubbish lying next to a bin and cannot understand the logic behind this, or for that matter, throwing litter out of the car window – who is going to pick that up? I personally would like to live in a clean, well-looked after environment.

Are members of the public allowed to attend the monthly meetings?

Absolutely. Anyone is welcome.

If people are not able to physically assist in cleaning up Plett, can they make donations?

Yes please! We rely on these donations to pay our 2 cleaners who are very dedicated and have routes of 15km that they do per day, to keep our town clean.

Our bank account details are:
Nedbank – Keep Plett Clean
Account Number: 1096711974
Branch Code: 198765

What would you ideally like to achieve in the long term from the Plett Clean up Campaign?

Neat and Tidy – Keep Plett Clean

In the long term I would like the municipality to be more of a partnership with us and continue to create public awareness. I would like people to implement a habit and dedicate some of their time, to clean up around their shop / restaurant and even the road around these areas.

When and where do you and your team meet?

My team and I meet at the Grand Hotel and from there we spread out across a variety of areas.

How often do you and your team meet?

We meet every Tuesday evening at 17h15 for one hour.

How do you decide which areas to clean and how do you operate?

All the active members of the Cleaning Committee communicate through a whatsapp group, where we are all constantly talking. From there, we decide where to clean, like today for example (Tuesday 17 March 2015) we will head in the airport direction, this is the first thing people see when they arrive in Plett.

Cleaners with Smiles

We also have 2 cleaners who walk a 15km route everyday to help maintain the cleanliness, 1 of the cleaners is part-time and the other is a full time employee.

Do you have any memorable moments from your successful year with the Campaign?

My most memorable and recent of memories is getting the new bins out, they were sponsored by Reitzer Pharmaceuticals and I am so pleased that they are out.

I am so grateful for my team and the major role players in keeping Plett Cleanup Campaign a huge success, we will not give up and we aren’t going anywhere, we are determined to keep Plett clean and spread this awareness.

Some members of our team are:

David Scott, Brenda Scott, Maxine Brett, Kirsten Deacon, Nic Bryant, Dee Gotz, Kimberley Wilscher, Matt Covar, Di Butlin, Steph Shrosbee, The Curries from Rice and Linen, Elaine Gerber, Garry from Smart Gardens, Lesley Mullins, Mandy Frost, Simone van der Walt (Our student helper!), Dave Robinson, Arlene’s Pool Services, Home from Home, and so many more…