A group of Camps Bay High School learners got their hands dirty during a beach clean-up at Maiden’s Cove beach on Wednesday 13 April.
A total of 58 learners, who form part of the school’s environmental club, collected more than 10 bags of litter.
Student head of the club Neve Ingle says: “The group crept into nooks and crannies and climbed boulders to ensure litter in hard to reach places was collected. They collected eight bags on the beach and five bags in the pathway between the school and Victoria Road.”
Ingle says their aim is to preserve the environment and create cleaner communities.
“We want to encourage younger people to take care of their community and be responsible for preserving the delicate ecosystems around them. Ultimately to understand that we can all make a small difference in the fight against climate change and in turn protect our future on the planet.”
The group will have their next clean-up on Friday 6 May.
According to the The City of Cape Town, littering and illegal dumping remain a major challenge throughout the city.
More than 180 000 tons of waste are cleared annually from illegal dumping sites citywide. Illegal dumping costs the City R350 million annually.
On Thursday 14 April, the City launched the Cleaner Schools, Safer Schools campaign at Bloekombos Primary School in an effort to raise awareness of keeping the environment clean.
Grant Twigg, Mayco member for urban waste management, says the City is working towards changing residents’ mindset around litter and dumping, starting with young people.
“As part of this effort, the directorate is running a project providing education and awareness-building at selected schools. This is being supported by donations of paint, cleaning supplies and toilet paper to help them create an environment that discourages littering.
Twigg says the project aims to highlight how litter can contribute to increased crime, or conversely how cleaner environments can deter criminal elements.
“The aim is to highlight the importance of cleaning to children and to motivate them to play their part in their communities, by keeping their schools clean.”
He says a total budget of R50 000 has been assigned to the project.
“Keeping Cape Town clean requires a partnership between residents and government. It is key that we reach the children with this message as early as possible if we want to change the culture around waste in communities where littering and dumping is a challenge. They can be agents of positive change.”
Twigg says dumping is not only bad for the environment but can also affect the value of a property.
“Dumping can become a vicious cycle. It can degrade an area, and lower property values, which then can cause more dumping and attract crime. It is important we show residents from a young age that these things are interconnected, so they are more motivated not to litter, and to address littering and dumping in their surroundings.”
To report illegal dumping contact:. City Call Centre: 0860 103 089.. If you have the culprit’s vehicle registration number or can identify them call: 021 444 6231/ 021 444 6224/021 444 6223.
