The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Barbara Creecy in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) will host World Environment Day (WED) 2023, on Monday, 5 June 2023, in Cape Town.
The WED 2023 is commemorated under the theme: “#Beat Plastic Pollution” with a strong focus on eliminating all forms of waste/pollution, particularly plastic.
This year’s WED is aimed at seeking innovative ways to end plastic pollution. Plastic pollution is now a global problem with an estimated 353 million tonnes of plastic waste produced in a year and finding itself polluting our oceans because of its durability and taking a much longer time disintegrate.
To mark the World Environment Day 2023, Minister Creecy will embark on a tour of two recycling plants in Cape Town that are supported through Producer Responsibility Organisations – POLYCO and PETCO to gain further insight into the benefits of Extended Producer Responsibility in support of plastic recycling.
Members of the media are invited to join the Minister as follows:
Waste Want
Date: 5 June 2023
Physical address: Cnr Sandringham and Maroela Streets, Kraaifontein
Time: 10:00
Waste Want started out as a small collections company, selling collected recycling material to recyclers. Through this project around 200 people have been employed, recycling in the local community has improved and backlogs in waste processing addressed. Waste Want diverts 1 000 tonnes of waste per month.
CRDC SA RESIN8
Date: 5 June 2023
Physical address: 255 Wimbledon Road, Blackheath Industrial
Time: 11:00
CRDC SA RESIN8 is a site where plastic is mixed and converted into an aggregate modifier for the construction industry. At its pilot plant facility, CRDC processes about 420kg of plastic waste per day enabling it to test various waste streams in its process. At the new facility, CRDC will be able to process 610 tonnes of plastic waste per month and thereby produce 725 tonnes of RESIN8. The project has partnered with various existing waste reclaimers.
Minister Creecy will conclude the World Environment Day 2023 commemoration with a beach clean-up at Macassar Beach in Khayelitsha, Ward 109 at 11:30.
To RSVP please contact, Merle van Diemel on 083 301 9400 / mvandiemel@dffe.gov.za or Simphiwe Mnikina on 082 955 4122 / smnikina@dffe.gov.za
Media enquiries:
Peter Mbelengwa
Cell: 082 611 8197
