KNYSNA NEWS – Supporting the environment is one of the key areas of focus for Rotary International and the Rotary Club of Knysna has recently formed an environmental committee to look at ways in which Knysna can become more environmentally friendly.
Said Judy-Marié van Noordwyk:
"I head up the Rotary Club of Knysna's new environmental committee and we believe that Knysna has the potential to show the country what can be done with some gutsy determination.
"Take the Pledge Nature Reserve which is right in town centre for example: until 1988 it was an informal dumping site. Because of the vision and determination of Knysna citizens, that land was reclaimed and today the park is home to an excess of 300 indigenous flora species of the Southern Cape, 90 species of birdlife and various small mammals, reptiles and amphibians."
Recycling
Van Noordwyk encourages all Knysna residents to join in the journey of creating a cleaner, greener Knynsa by making a commitment to recycling, starting with themselves and their homes.
"Clear recycling bags may be collected from the municipality to separate items that can be recycled from other household waste. Knysna has a new recycling service provider working on behalf of the municipality. DM Recycling Waste Management is based in Hadeda Street in the Industrial Area and from 1 February they will be collecting the recycling bags themselves - which should address some of the inconsistencies with collection that people have been complaining about. You will help to make the recycling process more efficient by ONLY placing items that can be recycled in the recycling bags.
"And a delightful discovery: DM Recycling informed us that people DON'T need to wash the bottles, cans and tubs that we put in their recycling, so that makes life a bit easier!"
Electronic waste
Much electronic waste still ends up in landfills, releasing toxic chemicals and other pollutants into the soil, groundwater and atmosphere. Ethical e-waste recycling ensures that items are disassembled into components, and many of the materials including glass, copper, plastics, metals and precious metals are recovered for further processing, to be used in the manufacture of new products.
With this in mind the Rotary Club of Knysna has organised an e-waste collection drive, working with LG E-waste Specialists and with support from the Knysna Municipality.
Says Van Noordwyk, "Do you have electronic waste (broken items that work with batteries and electricity) cluttering up your home and office? Bring it for responsible recycling."
When: Saturday 5 February from 08:30 to 12:00
Where: Loerie Park Parking Lot, George Rex Drive
"There is so much more that we can and must do to preserve this beautiful place where we live and to mitigate the impact of climate change," says Van Noordwyk.
"But to end with a quote from the late Desmond Tutu, 'there is only one way to eat an elephant: one bite at a time'."
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