NEWS RELEASE                                                                                             5 April 2002

CITY INFRASTRUCTURE BOSS BACKS TRIAL PROJECT TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY OF HOUSEHOLD WASTE DISPOSAL 

With space pressure increasing at Cape Town’s six landfill sites, the political head of City Infrastructure in Cape Town, Councillor David Erleigh, has come out in support of a trial project to separate wet and dry household waste.

The project is aimed at increasing the efficiency of waste disposal by separating valuable recyclables such as paper, cardboard, plastic and cans from moist rubbish.

By being more easily identifiable, dry waste would also be easier to locate for the informal pickers on landfill sites. 

Councillor Erleigh, the City of Cape Town’s Executive Committee member for City Infrastructure, said separation of household rubbish into bags for wet and dry waste was common practice in major metropolitan areas. 

“Usable and recyclable dry waste is taking up valuable space at our landfill sites,” he said.  

“At the present rate, four of our six landfill sites will probably have to close down for various reasons in the next five years, and space is at a premium.” 

Pilot tests have shown that a garbage bag of a different colour and made from slightly thicker material can be successfully used in recovering dry household waste. 

Councillor Erleigh said the separation strategy would not involve any increased costs of collection and transport. 

“We aim to implement this trial project in about 850 households in one area for a period of six months,” he said. “After that we will evaluate the results and make a decision.” 

The area for the waste project is still to be decided. 

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