THURSDAY, 03 APRIL 2003: Senior officials from the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, today (Thursday, 3 April 2003) visited workers at a plastic bottle recycling factory in Blackheath, Western Cape, to observe how waste recycling is improving people's lives for the better.

The officials visited the factory, Econo Recycling, as part of government's Imbizo Focus Week, which began on Monday, 31 March 2003, and ends on Sunday, 6 April 2003. The aim of Imbizo Focus Week is to give communities an opportunity to interact directly with government, where they can discuss issues on service delivery and the general development in the country.

Their visit came just over a month before regulations controlling the use of plastic bags come into effect on May 9.

The visit was aimed at getting a first-hand account from workers on how the recycling industry has changed their lives through job creation. The officials further met some members of the surrounding communities who benefit by collecting the bottles and selling them to the recycling plant.

The department's Deputy Director-General, Mr Horst Kleinschmidt, called on the workers and community members to make it a personal mission to educate other South Africans about the importance of protecting the environment through waste management.

"Our life and the future of our country will never be the same if we continue to throw away waste without a care. We need to make sure that wonderful projects such as this grow, that we mobilise more people to join our course".

Econo Recycling works closely with non-governmental organisations, 40 schools from surrounding communities and a Christian community radio station - which all promote environmental education.

Last year saw the Bergvliet High School raising R96 000 from collecting plastic bottles for recycling, the United Projects Forum (UPF) has a workforce of 140 people who collect plastic bottles, and the CCFM uses its shows to educate communities on environmental management.

Mr Kleinschmidt reiterated government's commitment to the empowerment of the country's poor, adding that the plastic bag regulations will go a long in helping alleviate poverty by creating much-needed job opportunities through the strengthened recycling industry.