OBJECTIVE: |
BACKGROUND The Western Cape Clean-up Operation was initiated in 2001 by the Western Cape Department of Environmental and Cultural Affairs and Sport. It was launched on World Environment Day, 5 June 2001 by the Chief Directorate of Environmental Affairs. During the first year, the Western Cape Clean-Up Operation established a small grant facility to fund projects initiated by Non-Governmental Organisations, (NGO's), Community Based Organisations, (CBO's) and Municipalities.  The Western Cape Clean-up Operation areas 2001/2002 The Western Cape Clean-up Operation was implemented in several towns across the Province during 2001/2002. It is the objective of the project to extend into those areas not previously reached in order for the entire province to experience the benefits of the project. AIM OF THE WESTERN CAPE CLEAN-UP OPERATION To improve the physical environment of the Western Cape that will protect and enhance the quality and safety of the environment for all. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
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START: |
2001 | ||
END: |
2002 | ||
STATUS: |
Completed | ||
DESCRIPTION: |
PROJECTS FUNDED: RECYCLING Recycling is the process by which materials otherwise destined for disposal are collected, remanufactured and reused. This includes materials such as, paper, cardboard, tins, glass and certain types of plastic. Oasis Association for the Mentally Handicapped  The OASIS project relies heavily on the contributions by the surrounding communities to sustain the project. Community members are urged to bring all their recyclable materials to the workshop. This organisation is running two workshops, in the southern suburb, Claremont and the northern suburb, Kuilsriver. These workshops provide employment for 344 workers with intellectual disabilities, of whom 33 are employed at the recycling project. The employees are transported to and from their homes by transportation provided by OASIS. The project involves participation by members of the community as well as members of OASIS. Community members bring their recyclable materials to OASIS where it is sorted before recycling. "The funding received assisted us in the refurbishment of the Waste Management Depot at the Claremont workshop and provided our workers as well as the public with a safe and hygienic living and working environment. Paper, cardboard, newspaper, plastic, glass and metal are recycled at this facility. People with intellectual disability have little vocational and social opportunity to interface with the public but due to this recycling project they are provided with the opportunity to interact with hundreds of people dropping off recyclable waste. This assisted to  Two OASIS employees begin the recycling process. Marcelle Peuckert Mitchell's Plain Community Development Co-operation The Material Recovery Facility, (MRF), serves as a facility for the receiving, processing and distribution of recyclables. They have focused on households and shopping centres in the Mitchell's Plain area to provide the project with recyclable waste that is later transported to the facility where the recycling process begins. Initially, the organisation had registered 6 500 households but with plans to increase the households to 50 000 in the near future. "The facility received 25 tons of commingled waste per month which, when processed amounts to 20 tons of saleable materials and 5 tons for landfill disposal - a massive reduction of landfilled waste!" Ian Fortuin Ladismith Action Group  Various crafts are produced using the recycled waste and sold to the public as an alternative method to income This NGO is working in collaboration with the Kannaland Municipality in collecting recyclable material in the Ladismith area and to use it for producing goods that can be sold as crafts. Items that have been produced thus far include candleholders, flowerpots, chairs, etc. "The public is very enthusiastic about the project and has given its' full support where possible. An environmental awareness attitude has now been created. Recyclable materials collected in the area, are used to produce goods that can be sold as crafts. This has not only begun to clean-up the areas but has also developed an alternative method of income. The project will be self-supportive in the future through the income generated form the craft selling." Hennie Smit PROJECTS FUNDED: GREENING PROJECTS The greening projects focuses mainly on the planting of trees and vegetable gardens in order to improve the appearance of these areas as well as to create an alternative method of income. Tsoga Environmental Resource Centre  The Mvula Primary School gets a needed clean-up by one of the members of the Tsoga Environmental Resource Centre. Tsoga Environmental Resource Centre, a NGO, based in Langa, Cape Town, has implemented a project in Samora Machel, Philippi that consists of 300 participants focusing on cleaning, greening and waste management. The organisation initiated the food gardening in 60 households and the project will expand to the remaining 240 households in phases with the assistance of trained personnel. Tsoga is also implementing a similar project at the Mvula Primary School in Lusaka, Nyanga, where the Western Cape Clean-up Operation was launched on 5 June 2001. "The project was to target 300 households for backyard gardens and door-to-door waste collection. To date 130 households are actively involved in food gardens. The group of women involved in the food garden activities  Members of the project have now developed a method of income by selling vegetables grown in their gardens. Nomtha Dilima PROJECTS FUNDED: CLEANING PROJECTS The Western Cape Clean-up Operation assisted local authorities financially to enable them to create clean environments for the communities in their area of jurisdiction. Municipalities who were lacking the resources to provide basic clean-up services in these areas were funded to start up these services. These projects were mostly funded on a 50/50 basis. The municipality only required the start up cost, where after the services would be sustained by the municipality. George Municipality George Municipality employed twelve community contractors who were instructed to employ an additional seven personnel, to clean up townships in the greater George area. Each contractor is responsible for cleaning the streets and for the removal of litter caused by illegal dumping. The public is working together with the Municipality and the contractors in keeping their areas clean by reporting those individuals or companies that are practising illegal dumping. "The main objective of the project has been achieved. The overall impression of George and its' surroundings is that of a cleaner town. The public became aware of the difference being made by the project and supported the initiative. They also now make use of the formal refuse removal service instead of dumping it on sidewalks and open grounds. Schools also take part in the project and organised several mini clean-up campaigns. Businesses cooperated by sponsoring refuse containers and educational handouts for all participants." G.F. Goosen Knysna Municipality
The Knysna Municipality applied for funding to clean-up areas impoverished with illegal dumping, car wrecks, and litter. The municipality accepted greening proposals from various schools, where they have planned to plant trees. Schools also took part in clean-ups and as a result, massive amounts of waste were removed in Knysna/Sedgefield and Rheenendal. "Our project has been a great success. To date a total of 7 074 bags of waste and 62 car wrecks have been removed in the Knysna/Sedgefield/Rheenendal area. The department has received numerous compliments on how clean certain parts of our town are. Funding received from the department has assisted us greatly in this venture in the financing of projects that otherwise would not have been possible" Steven Langlands Oudtshoorn Municipality The Oudtshoorn Municipality appointed contractors to clean-up Dysselsdorp and Blomnek, adopting the strategy they implemented in Oudtshoorn. The project created job opportunities for 15 contractors and 2-truck drivers. Contractors are responsible for cleaning up their areas by removing garden refuse, litter and scrap metals. Skips and trailers were purchased for the collection of refuse. The Municipality will sustain the project. "The funding granted to this Municipality made it possible to acquire the required equipment whilst the remainder of the grant was utilised to cover the cost of the contractors wages. Without the Western Cape Clean-up Operation grant it is highly unlikely that the Oudtshoorn Municipality would have been able to introduce the said service in both Dysselsdorp and Blomnek simultaneously." Jacques Bruwer Saron Community Service  The clearing of bushes is Saron will contribute to the prevention of crime in the area. This community organisation was funded to clean-up within the Saron community, by sweeping streets, picking up litter in the rivers and clearing bushes that contributed to the high crime rate. The clean-up and rehabilitation of these areas and structures contributed to the promotion of tourism in the area. The community and several schools were actively involved in the clean-up of the Saron area. This project created 160 temporary jobs for the people of Saron. "Without the assistance from the Western Cape Clean-up Operation, it would not have been possible to get this project off the ground. It contributed to the eradication of poverty in our local community. The community became aware of the environment and the importance of the positive impact that it has on our lives." Julene Burger-Alkanster PROJECTS FUNDED: EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS The educational projects concentrates on general environmental education and awareness which includes, waste management, conservation of natural resources and the protection of wildlife species. Zeekoevlei Environmental Education Programme  "Ek is trots op my dorp" The Zeekoevlei Environmental Education Programme was able to establish a brand new night facility on the shores of the Zeekoevlei Nature Reserve, on the Cape Flats. The programme often included a visit to the Strandfontein sewerage works and the landfill site. This gives learners an understanding of not only the natural environment, but also an opportunity to gather knowledge on waste management and resource conservation in the metropolitan area. "The funds provided by the Western Cape Clean-up Operation have enabled us to run 18 environmental education camps from January to April 2002. During this time 557 campers have spent 3 days and 2 nights learning about the environment and developing a love and a care for our natural resources. As the aim of the ZEEP trust is to enable previously disadvantaged groups to participate, we had groups from, Phekezela High School, Langa Environmental Club and several Cape Flats schools." Bevan Lill  |
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BUDGET: |
FUNDING The Western Clean-Up Operation, already in existence for a year, will continue for an additional two years. In the 2001/2002 financial year, the programme offered R4 741 million to projects contributing to the improvement of the physical environment. R3 million was allocated to municipalities and R1 741 million to NGO's and CBO's. This has already created over a thousand temporary jobs in the Western Cape.The projects that are considered for funding must meet the overall objective of improving the physical environment, that amongst others includes, projects concentrating on reducing pollution and waste such as, recycling and composting, cleaning and greening projects, environmental education and awareness projects. Local authorities that received funding from the Western Cape Clean-up Operation:
 Job opportunities created by the Western Cape Clean-up Operation's funds Non Governmental Organisations (NGO's) that received funding from the Western Cape Clean-up Operation:
EVALUATION CRITERIA
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SPONSORED BY: |
Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (Provincial Government of the Western Cape) |
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Cape Gateway is a government service aimed primarily at citizens of the Western Cape, providing information on local, provincial and national government |  |