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| ISSUE:
The management and reduction of litter and illegal dumping |
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| Littering and illegal dumping
are problematic in the CMA. Remediation and clean up campaigns are costly and do not offer
long-term solutions. |
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| Urbanisation and urban
growth gives rise to an increase in volumes of all types of waste. Urban sprawl results in greater distances and therefore makes refuse
removal more costly and less efficient. Inadequate refuse removal services in informal
settlements, primarily due to the increase in number and unplanned nature of these
settlements.
The high costs associated with formal disposal can lead to
smaller contractors dumping their waste illegally.
The predominance of a consumer culture results in high volumes of
litter and waste requiring disposal. There is also a lack of public awareness and
responsibility as well as formalised recycling facilities and systems that encourage waste
minimisation.
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| Average waste generation
per capita is estimated to be 1kg per day. It is estimated
that 87 t/a of litter enters the storm water system. Up to 239 kg of plastic bags enter
stormwater drains per day resulting in high flood risks and financial costs.
At least four million items of litter can be found per day in the
CMA, approximately half of which are plastic. Significant financial resources are used to
remediate the problem.
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- Information on littering and illegal dumping
is not readily available.
See a summary of all
Indicators on this website
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The following responses
are underway by the CMC:
- An Integrated Waste Management Project in support of the National
Waste Management Strategy is being undertaken. A Solid Waste Feasibility Study is
currently underway.
- The first Cape Metropolitan Festival of the Environment to raise
awareness about issues such as waste management was held.
The CMC is also participating in the following initiatives:
- A litter management project is being co-funded by the CMC and the
Water Research Commission. This project aims to quantify and identify sources of litter
and aid in the development of litter management plans.
- A Khayelitsha Anti-litter Campaign is being undertaken in
partnership with the Fairest Cape Association.
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- Do not litter and report people who do.
- Become a positive role model by throwing your litter in
waste disposal bins.
- Re-use plastic bags and recycle plastic items.
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