The City of Johannesburg recently joined the South African Plastic Pact, becoming the second metropolitan municipality to do so after the City of Cape Town. 

One of the key objectives of becoming part of plastic pact is to gain knowledge, cascade best practice and assist in identifying solutions to address Plastic Waste challenges. This also means the City will be directly involved in working closely with the private sector in finding solutions and innovative ways to deal with plastic waste.

Johannesburg is running out of airspace for landfilling. Joining the pact will assist to divert plastic waste away from our landfill sites.

“The City of Johannesburg is committed to world-class service delivery for our customers. This includes the provision of a clean and healthy environment, which is devoid of plastic pollution. The transition to a job creating circular economy is at the forefront of our thinking, and being part of the SA Plastics Pact, which is a hub of collaboration and innovation, is an intuitive next step for us to take,” says Makhosazana Baker, the Director of Waste Management and Regulation in the Environment and Infrastructure Services department.

Pikitup, the City’s waste management entity, has provided sorting facilities for cooperatives involved in recycling in all regions of the City. It provides working tools, storage containers, trucks and trolleys. The City also provides training on by-laws and other environmental issues to the cooperatives.

The City hopes businesses will assist to change the way plastic products and packaging are designed, used and reused. Being part of plastics pact will assist the city to raise awareness and educate residents to ensure that plastics are valued and never become waste and end up in the landfill sites and encourage residents to actively participate in the Separation@Source programme.

Illegal dumping hotspots have increased in and around the city and most consist of plastic waste and even our rivers get polluted by the plastic and makes the water not conducive for human consumption or even recreational purposes.

The City has recently reviewed and approved the Waste Management By-laws to incorporate waste minimisation activities. Enforcement of by-laws is done by the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) and its officers are undergoing training on waste management issues.

Pikitup urges residents and business to participate in the Separation@Source programme and will continue to provide education and awareness to enhance the programme.

Submitted by the City of Johannesburg