Woolworths Palmyra customer Megon Bisset putting the recycling vendor machine through its paces.

In line with its recent announcement to achieve ZERO packaging waste to landfill by 2022, Woolworths has launched the customer trial of an integrated reverse vending machine in its flagship green store, Woolworths Palmyra in Claremont. This is good news for the many South African consumers who have called on retailers and manufacturers to reduce packaging waste.

“It might seem like a fun innovation because it’s so smart, but this is actually an important trial,” says Feroz Koor, the Woolworths Holdings Group Head of Sustainability. “Packaging plays a vital role in protecting products. The effort to reduce pollution is not just about finding the ways to minimise packaging in a responsible way; it is also about supporting consumers’ in their efforts to recycle, which in turn, boosts the country’s recycling industry. We are very proud to introduce our first in-store recycling vending machine. We know from customer surveys and social media conversations that there many customers concerned about reducing waste and we hope they will be keen to put the recycling vending machine through its paces so that it can be perfected and rolled out to more stores.”

The vending machine, which identifies recyclability by scanning product bar codes, was tested out first over a six-month period at Woolworths’ Head Office in Cape Town. Employees’ recycling efforts helped refine and expand the database and the user experience of the smart machine to amass a database of recyclable packaging barcodes that includes both Woolies products and other popular brands sold elsewhere. Takeaway paper coffee cups with bar codes, glass and tin containers, plastic bottles and containers up to the 2.25 litre size and Tetrapak are all accepted by the vending machine.

Feroz Koor – Woolworths Holdings Group Head of Sustainability showing an interested Palmyra customer how the recycling vendor machine works.

“Our Palmyra store is where we have trialled the majority of our green initiatives so we are looking forward to enthusiastic customer engagement. It is also the only retail store in South Africa to receive a 5 star rating certified by the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA)* so it made sense to trial South Africa’s first in-store integrated reverse vending machine there, “ added Koor.

Recycling vending machines are increasingly common internationally where consumers participate actively in daily environmentally-friendly practices. To participate in the waste reduction process, consumers log in as a user of the recycling vending machine via their mobile phones and deposit their clean, barcoded recyclable items. As part of the scanning and sorting of recyclable items, the user immediately receives a SMS confirmation of their deposit and an encouraging congratulations on being an eco-warrior. A local recycler is alerted when the machine is reaching its capacity to collect the materials, and is an integral part of the process that ensures that recyclable packaging does not needlessly end up in landfills.

Thank you eco warrior! – the final step after depositing recyclable packaging.

“Our ZERO waste to landfill journey is supported by many Woolies customers,” Koor concludes. “We know that they will appreciate this innovation, and that they recognise that we can’t walk this path alone. From producers to the household, and then beyond to include the South African recycling industry, we need to go forward towards ZERO waste to landfill, hand in hand.”

* using the Green Star SA – Existing Building Performance Custom Tenant rating tool

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The most impressive aspect of this initiative, is how households will be key in the process of recycling, as the Separation-at-Source Programme will ensure that recycling begins at home.

This programme refers to households being mandated to separate their waste at home. To place recyclables such as plastic, paper and cans in different rubbish bags which, in turn, makes it easier and more efficient when it come to the recycling process.

Implementation has been one challenge that has taken some time to get right, mainly due to backlogs cause by the ANC government. I therefore salute the decision taken by MMC Nico de Jager, to make Separation-at-Source mandatory from the 1st of July.

One also has to acknowledge the positive impact that this informal sector has had on job creation. Waste-pickers are individuals who face extreme poverty, and the recycling sector has offered them a viable solution in terms of earning an income.

Some initial concerns were raised that the introduction of this programme would exclude waste-pickers. However, the formalisation of the sector will instead incorporate them as an integral part of the recycling process. This will certainly come with its own benefits as waste-pickers will be granted rights and protection within this sector.

The Democratic Alliance supports the fight against pollution. Come 2019, we call on the voters to vote for a clean and safe Gauteng.

Submitted by: DA Media on behalf of Janho Engelbrech, DA Spokesperson on the Environment

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Hosted by The Enviropaedia, the awards will take place on World Environment Day (05 June) in Tshwane, and celebrates those individuals, organisations products and services  that positively contribute towards an environmentally sustainable world for us to live in.

“The Eco-Logic Awards promotes the best of South Africa’s Eco-Champions. This is becoming more and more relevant for consumers today, particularly when you look at just how much they care about the moral and environmental values and behaviour of the brands they choose to support.,” says David Parry-Davies, publisher of Enviropaedia and founder of the awards.

The judging panel, which consisted of 14 highly experienced and knowledgeable judges from senior positions in the private and public sectors, had a big task on their hands, examining all the high-quality entries. “It was tough deciding on the ultimate winners from all the entries, but I believe each single entry is worthy. Every effort made to save our planet is welcomed, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem to some, because as a collective we have so much more power to make a positive difference, “said Smile 90.4FM presenter Maurice Carpede, who was on the judging panel.

Since the competition launched in 2011, the Eco-Logic Awards has flourished and grown in scale, status and influence to become one of South Africa’s most prestigious environmental calendar events, with broad support from South Africa’s environmental authorities and thought leaders. “The Eco-Logic value system is a radically new approach to addressing today’s environmental challenges. It identifies the destructive thinking patterns and values that have led to today’s environmental critical conditions and promotes an alternative set of constructive values and thinking patterns (The seven virtues of Eco-Logic) that support and benefit People, Planet and a Green Economy,’ says Parry-Davies.

The following ‘Virtues of Eco-Logic’ were used to assess each entry:

• Benefits and regenerates the Earth
• Reflects long-term, sustainable thinking
• Embraces a broadly inclusive and systemic thinking
• Demonstrates an Ubuntu care and consideration for others
• Is of excellent quality and ethical standard of production
• Demonstrates innovation and inspiration
• Reflects ‘Eco-Logical Wisdom’ by being both intellectually and emotionally intelligent

The 2018 Eco-Logic Awards finalists include:

Biodiversity Award (sponsored by Afrisam)

• Bearded Vulture Breeding Programme
• Buffelsdraai Landfill Site Community Reforestation Project
• Cape Town Environmental Education Trust – Nature Care Fund
• LAB: Wetlands SA Project
• LifeScanner Lab-In-A-Box

Climate Change Award (sponsored by the Department of Environmental Affairs)

• EcoBrick Exchange
• Ecological Regeneration: Vusa Collaborative
• ENERGY Systems Joburg Landfill Gas To Electricity Project
• Pick n Pay
• Sanlam Cape Town Marathon

 Eco-Innovation Award (sponsored by City of Tshwane)

• CSIR Bioplastic
• Rare Earth Recycling Technologies – LPX Luminophorous Powder Processing Plant
• Reclite – Electronic and Lighting Waste Transportation
• Touch Tap
• Zeitz Mocaa Museum

Energy Efficiency Award (sponsored by ESKOM)

• Elgin Fruit Juice – Anaerobic Digestion Plant
• Energy Partners – Pick ‘n Pay Project
• Energy Systems Johannesburg –  Landfill Gas To Electricity Project
• Sarebi – The South African Renewable Energy Business Incubator
• Robben Island Solar PV Microgrid

Recycling and Waste Management Award

• ISUZU – Zero Waste to Landfill
• Rambrick
• The Supa Mama Entrepreneurial Training Project
• Wild Coast Sun – Zero Waste to Landfill
• ZuluGal Retro

 Transport Award

• Smart Trucking – Performance Based Standards
• E-lectric bicycle technology
• Ford Wildlife Foundation
• Mechanical Concrete by Tiro Sechaba Construction
• uGoMyWay

 Water Conservation Award (sponsored by Sodastream)

• Avis Water Conservation
• ECOlaTRINE sanitation and waste management solution
• Liberty Braamfontein – Water Saving Project
• Table Bay Hotel
• Water Rhapsody Conservation Systems

 Green Economy Award (sponsored by CSIR – National Cleaner Production Centre)

• The Greenovate Awards
• EcoBrick Exchange
• TOMA – NOW – Developing the Biomass Value Chain
• Urban Grown South Africa
• WESSA EEESAY Project

 Municipalities Award (sponsored by SANTAM)

• City of Cape Town Green Bond
• Ethekwini Black Soldier Fly Technology
• Saldanha Bay Municipality Recycling Project
• City of Tshwane Green Building Programme
• Knysna Municipality Disaster Management

Eco-Youth Award (sponsored by Pick n Pay)

• Jukskei River Dirt Catcher – Hannan and Khaleel Akoojee
• Raise the Baby Rhino with Hunter Mitchell
• Jacobus van der Linden – Steps to Good Hope
• Miss Earth South Africa – Eco Bricks
• Sibusiso Mnisi – Good Work Foundation 

Eco-Community Award (sponsored by Sun International)

• Cape Town Environmental Education Trust – Conservation Leadership Programme
• Happitecture: Jonathan Edkins
• Korsman Conservancy
• Princess Vlei Forum
• Urban Grown South Africa

Eco-Angel Award (sponsored by Pam Golding Properties)

• Anthony Asher-Wood (KZN Valley Dogs)
• Esther van der Westhuizen (Butterfly World Zoo)
• Linda Tucker (Keeper of the White Lions)
• Shannon Hoffman (African Raptor Centre)
• Twin Mosia for the Mamafubedu Greening Project (Elandskop Museum)

Eco-Warrior Award

• Chris Whyte (Use it Waste)
• David Hall – (Volunteer Wildfire Services)
• Patricia Schröder (Reclite SA (Pty) Ltd)
• Sinegugu Zukulu  (Sustaining the Wild Coast)
• Twin Mawela Mosia (The Ingredients Productions and Elandskop Museum)

The ‘Glamorously Green’ Eco-Logic Gala Awards will be hosted at the new eco-friendly Sun International Hotel on Times Square’s in Menlyn Maine, Tshwane. Winners will be announced at the event, which will host more than 400 VIP guests, including environmental movers and shakers, thought leaders, celebrities, sponsors and top business executives, government and municipal representatives.

For more information, please visit www.enviropaedia.com and www.eco-logicawards.com

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On May 15th the EFBW announced four industry-wide pledges aiming to increase the collection of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles and the use of recycled PET, and to accelerate the shift towards a more circular European economy.

Through its membership of national trade associations and bottled water companies EFBW represents almost 600 natural mineral and spring water producers across Europe, has a membership base of 26 national trade associations, and 7 direct member companies.

All drink containers used by the European industry – be they PET, glass or aluminium – are recyclable. However, the level of collection of PET drink bottles varies substantially across the EU with some member states collecting more than 90% of PET bottles while others collect less than 20%.

The EFBW’s pledges are:

• Collect 90% of all PET bottles by 2025, as an EU average. Ensuring PET bottles are collected means that they can be used to produce new bottles or for other products. EFBW will be a driving force alongside all actors involved in the waste management process;
• Collaborate with the recycling industry to use at least 25% recycled PET (rPET) in its water bottles by 2025, as an EU average. To increase the use of rPET into new bottles, natural mineral and spring water producers require a consistent supply of high-quality recycled material;
• Innovate and invest further in eco-design and research on non-fossil based plastic materials. The bottled water industry has always had sustainability at its heart, and is continuously investing in packaging R&D. This includes optimising its packaging design through light- weighting, eco-innovation, and research on plastics from renewable origin;
• Engage with consumers who play a key role in preventing littering. The industry will support initiatives which encourage the proper sorting and disposal of packaging.

Speaking about the pledges, SANBWA Executive Director, Charlotte Metcalf, said: “PET drink bottles already achieve the highest recycling rate of any plastic packaging material in the EU. But the EFBW – like SANBWA – believes even one bottle ending up as litter is one too many.

“It will take a concerted, coordinated effort from many different value-chain actors to drive positive change. SANBWA applauds the EFBW and its members, who are stepping up to lead the way, and looks forward to seeing other geography-based economies doing the same.”

The national industry body in South Africa responsible for fulfilling the PET sector’s mandate of extended producer responsibility (EPR), PETCO, has an equally ambitious target for 2025 – 90% – one that PETCO CEO, Cheri Scholtz, is certain will be achieved.

Metcalf rated PETCO’s achievements locally as world-class. “Despite tough trading conditions and a 13% fall in the total PET market, the South African plastic industry recycled a record 2.15 billion PET plastic bottles in 2017, setting a post-consumer recycling rate of 65% to put the country on par with international standards,” she said.

“The 93 235 tonnes of collected PET exceeded the industry target of 58% for the year 2017 and created 64 000 income-generating opportunities for waste pickers, collectors and recyclers, saving 578 000m3 of landfill space and 139 000 tonnes of carbon in the process.

“This is a phenomenal achievement by PETCO, its members, its collectors and its recyclers. Importantly, it bodes well for PETCO’s target of 90% PET recycling by 2025.”

Key to South Africa achieving the target is that bottles must be designed for recycling. For example, there should be no printing on bottles, no strange colours, no weird labels, and they should contain a percentage of rPET (recycled PET).

All SANBWA’s members are required to support post-consumer recycling initiatives near them, and to design for recycling. PETCO’s Design for Recycling Guide can be downloaded here: http://petco.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/PETCO_Design-4-Recycling-Guide.pdf

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Shani Meintjes is a young South African volunteering in Costa Rica on a project very close to her heart, a project aimed at decreasing the impact of the vastly polluting cargo shipping industry. You might ask how this is even possible given that 90% of all cargo globally is transported via cargo ship and that changing the mindset of this industry would be a slow and lumbering process. But read Shani’s article on Sailcargo Inc – an amazing undertaking where Shani and a number of other volunteers are building a carbon-negative sailing cargo tallship on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica

When you awake at first light of day under an already warm sun, pick a juicy, bright orange mango from the nearest branch and sit down under the shade of the cashew tree for breakfast and a cup of biodynamic Costa Rican coffee, you want to say yes without hesitation. This paradise of a budding carbon-neutral shipyard sits on the edge of the evolution of the shipping industry, an example of change that could be replicated worldwide to combine our efforts, come together and create a cleaner future for these special oceans we so greatly depend on.

So arguably, the short answer is, yes. She and other ships like her, as well as adapted modern cargo ships, will have to become the norm for trading goods across the ocean at the rate we do now if we want to see a sustainable future for the shipping industry.

Around 90% of all cargo is transported globally by shipping (International Chamber of Shipping) and it accounts for 1000 million tonnes of CO2 annually, or nearly 2.5% of all total greenhouse gas emissions (3rd IMO GHG Study). This is not a huge amount but, as it is said to increase by between 50-250% by the year 2050, it becomes a problem because this does not meet the internationally-agreed requirement for the planet to avoid passing above the 2°C temperature increase (European Commission Climate Action).

Considering, as well, all the other negative impacts shipping is having within the natural world, it is a major concern due to the amount of reliance that weighs on the continuance of the industry. Currently, the world’s 15 largest container ships burn as much sulphur oxide as 1.2 billion cars. Unfortunately the issues associated with the maritime industry don’t stop there, with air pollution levels threatening to overtake all land-based sources altogether by 2020 in Europe alone; oil spills from tankers accounting for some of the world’s largest; and bio-acoustic pollution causing major interference and deaths among the oceans’ populations of whales and other marine life relying on sonar communication – all of these and more play major roles in the negative effects shipping is having on the natural environment. However, cargo ships are the backbone of the world’s trade, unexchangeable if we wish to continue to enjoy the luxury of globalisation and free movement of products as we’ve become accustomed to today.

These days it often sounds like it’s all doom and gloom when it comes to environmental issues and perhaps seems too difficult to achieve all the changes required to see the preservation of nature and also the survival, in this case, of the shipping industry. But this just means that we need to see shipping change.

This is why project Ceiba, born through SAILCARGO INC. is so inspiring for the future. It’s happening right now, on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. Volunteers and professionals, local and international, are coming together to begin the build of a carbon-negative wooden three-masted square-topsail schooner on a beautiful eco-shipyard here in the tropics of Central America.

The vision is to construct the ship using old-world shipbuilding techniques cohesively combined with the help of modern technology and knowledge, with as much locally-sourced materials as possible and with strong connections in the surrounding community. This means that not only is the actual running of Ceiba environmentally-friendly and regenerative, but, based on a triple bottom line (TBL) financial strategy, the company must equally consider their environmental and social responsibilities, alongside economic, directly from day 1. This is in order to ensure a more holistic approach to business and the people and places it affects.

The idea is to be the missing link in the carbon neutral trade line of many already environmentally-responsible companies, to connect the ethical producer with the ethical consumer, making the entire process, start to finish, ethical, economical and sustainable for everyone involved.

The aim is to sail Ceiba along the Pacific Exchange (PAX) Line – from her home port in Costa Rica up to Hawaii, shipping Macadamia nuts across to Canada, smoked Canadian salmon down to the USA, American barley for the growing Costa Rican craft-beer market, before sailing to Mexico, to pick up some organic avocado oil before heading back to base – throughout using only the power of the wind or the 100% self-sufficient solar and battery-powered electric engine.

This project has been created because a gap in the growing ethical consumer market has been noticed, and founders Danielle and Lynx would like to help bridge that gap in a way that matches up to those keen and connected responsible producers and consumers.

Basing the project in Costa Rica is strategic geographically because of the proximity and access to both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, as well as the entire continent of the Americas, and environmentally by helping Costa Rica achieve its goal of becoming the first carbon neutral country by 2021.

You may wonder how this one small ship alone will really make any difference (in comparison to the average cargo carrier) to help change the huge sustainability issues of the maritime industry. Ceiba will be able to carry 250 tonnes (350+ cubic metres) of cargo at up to 14 knots using only clean energy, making her a reliable, financially competitive and combustion-free option.

Any negative carbon footprint that is created throughout the building and running of the ship will be offset by the planting of thousands of trees annually to offset any pollutant outputs created through unavoidable processes. However, most of the timber has been sourced from windfallen, non-native or plantation-grown trees and 10% of the trees that grow as part of the reforestation programme will be able to be used by the shipyard to build more ships in the years to come.

Once Ceiba is at optimal operation, 10% of the profits will also be donated to environmental societies in Costa Rica. Essentially, the base purpose of her existence is simply to provide a carbon-free alternative to existing routes to give producers and consumers the choice in favour of the world they want. So it’s possible, it is just the beginning and Ceiba is only the first ship in a fleet that aims to change the minds of the industry to adopt more sustainable, long-term practices to help gain momentum towards a more sustainable future. It’s about pushing out the boat of example, showing the world that there is an alternative and it’s in our hands to make change happen.

This project is moving with the flow, as money comes in, progress steadily comes out. But this has only been possible because of people like you, investing in shares. If you would like to get involved, but are unable to become part of the team, then investing in the project to help it grow to completion may be the option for you. The project is entirely funded by people investing in shares, which start at a value of $100 USD (roughly 1,200 ZAR).

8 hours later, the work day ends. It begins to cool down as a coconut is pulled from the tree, split open, the water shared, and as the crew ambles slowly to Playa Blanca the coconut meat is quickly devoured before they dive into the shallows of the Pacific to wash away the hot dust of the day.

If you’d like to have more information, or know how to get involved, just send an email to info@sailcargo.org, check out our full Business Plan or visit our website www.sailcargo.org.                                                                     ~

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2018 Nissan LEAF

The all-new 2018 Nissan LEAF, the world’s best-selling electric vehicle, was named the “2018 World Green Car” at the 2018 New York International Auto Show. LEAF is the icon of Nissan Intelligent Mobility, the company’s vision for changing how cars are powered, driven and integrated into society.

The first all-electric vehicle to win the World Green Car award since the category’s inception in 2016, the 2018 Nissan LEAF has been reinvented for its second generation. Available in showrooms today, the new Nissan LEAF combines greater range with a dynamic new design and the latest Nissan Intelligent Mobility features including:

• ProPILOT Assist
• e-Pedal
• Automatic emergency braking and more.

“We’re very proud that since Nissan LEAF launched in 2010, we’ve been able to put more than 300,000 zero-emission electric vehicles on the road worldwide, helping to reduce carbon footprints around the globe,” said Daniele Schillaci, Executive Vice President, Global Marketing and Sales, Zero Emission Vehicle and Battery Business; Chairman of Management Committee for Japan/A&O (Japan, Asia, Oceania Business); Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.,. “We’re honored to be recognized by this esteemed jury and proud to continue to expand the vision of Nissan Intelligent Mobility.”

Nissan senior vice president of Sales and Marketing, Dan Mohnke, accepting the 2018 World Green Car award

The 2018 Nissan LEAF rose to the top among a list of five initial category entries and was the stand-alone EV in the running. Jurors considered the vehicle’s overall environmental impact including tailpipe emissions and fuel consumption upon selecting the overall winner.

The previous-generation Nissan LEAF was named “World Car of the Year” in 2011 and remains the only pure electric vehicle to win that award in its 14-year history.

For more information on the 2018 Nissan LEAF and the complete Nissan vehicle lineup, please visit nissannews.com.

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Fourways Cubs Pack member Harriet Dawes with Mike Page Director of Operations and Complex General Manager

For the love of dolphins, 10-year-old Harriet Dawes from Fourways set out to make a difference to the marine environment, and approached Montecasino to join ‘The Last Straw’ campaign, an initiative to eliminate the use of plastic straws due to their lasting damage to the environment, particularly to ocean life.

Harriet is an enthusiastic member of the 1st Fourways Cubs Pack and after participating in river clean-ups at Emmarentia Dam and Jukskei River, decided to research environmental conservation and do something about it for her ‘Leaping Wolf’ challenge. She says, “Dolphins are my favourite animals so I chose the marine environment to research. I learned that people do not recycle enough and the biggest problem is single-use disposable plastics, like straws, that cannot be recycled.” She was struck by “horrible photos of sea creatures suffering from having plastic items around or inside their bodies”.

She wrote to Montecasino asking for support for ‘The Last Straw’ campaign. Mike Page, Director of Operations and Complex GM, says, “We were inspired by Harriet’s letter. She pointed out that she’s aware that Montecasino has extensive recycling systems, waste processes, and public recycling bins in place, and asked that we consider stopping the use of plastic straws on the property. As a community-centred and environmentally responsible property, this request was taken very seriously. We constantly strive to be a catalyst for change in our community, and we have begun the process of engaging with our tenants to consider alternatives to plastic single-use straws.”

Says Mike, “Harriet was speaking our language when she said she believes Montecasino can ‘lead the way and show visitors that they do not need to use a plastic straw’. We already have several tenants on board – either eliminating the use of straws or considering alternatives such as paper, bamboo, or metal straws – and we have no doubt the trend will raise awareness and more and more businesses and members of the public will get involved in helping to reduce the high levels of plastic in our oceans.”

According to strawlessocean.org, over 500 million plastic straws are used daily in the USA alone, with most ending up in the oceans, polluting the water and killing marine life. “If we don’t act now, by 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.”

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Become a Green Talent, promote your sustainability research in Germany and gain exclusive access to a remarkable network of excellent young researchers.

Sustainable development is fundamental to preserving our earth for present and future generations by finding a balance between the need for socio-economic development and the protection of the environment. These topics of global political relevance demand international research cooperation. With its high-class innovation and research centres, Germany supports great efforts in particular by intensifying international cooperation among the bright and outstanding minds of tomorrow. 

The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research has held the prestigious “Green Talents – International Forum for High Potentials in Sustainable Development” since 2009. The award honours 25 young researchers every year. Thus, the Green Talents Competition successfully encourages the global exchange of innovative green ideas from various fields of research. Since its inception, the award has recognised 207 young researchers and scientists from 57 nations for their outstanding achievements and contributions to making their communities, countries and societies more sustainable. The award-winners are selected by a jury of renowned German experts and are granted unique access to Germany’s research elite.

The 2018 Green Talents Award includes:

• 

  Enjoy a two-week visit to German sustainability hot spots, individual appointments with experts and a fully financed research stay of up to three months

  An invitation to the fully funded two-week Science Forum 2018, consisting of:

  • A visit to leading German sustainable facilities, institutions and companies with exclusive insights on their pioneering research and projects
  • Individual appointments with German experts of the winner’s choice to discuss possibilities for upcoming research and cooperation
  • Networking opportunities at the award ceremony in Berlin with participating Green Talents alumni
• A fully funded research stay of up to three months at an institution of the award-winner´s choice in 2019
• Particular access to the exclusive Green Talents alumni network.

For more information please refer to the website www.greentalents.de where both the competition flyer as well as the award trailer are available.

Deadline for submission: 23 May 2018, 2 p.m. CEST.

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Mike Page, GM of Montecasino, says, “Overall, South Africa’s waste management statistics are concerning. According to a report by the Department of Environmental Affairs in November 2016, the country produces about 108 million tons of waste a year, of which 90% ends up in 826 landfills across the country– and only 10% is recycled. Many of the landfill sites are reaching capacity and available land to extend landfill sites or construct new ones is limited. It’s up to everyone, but more particularly organisations and properties that generate a lot of waste, to improve waste management where possible.”

Montecasino is in the process of installing a new food waste system to service the staff dining room, where approximately 1,500 meals are produced daily. The dual-chamber system, is a Joraform Bio-container, imported from Sweden, creates compost from food waste in two-week cycles:

• Food waste is deposited into the hopper and ground up before being ejected into the first chamber, where it is aerated and mixed with incoming fresh waste and wood pellets.
• After two weeks, it passes into the second chamber where it is isolated, constantly agitated, and the maturation process is completed.

Mike Page is the Director of Operations and Complex General Manager at Montecasino

It has the capacity to process up to 4,000 litres of cooked food waste per month, and, says Page, it will pay for itself within a year with the compost that will be used in the extensive Montecasino gardens.

Another new initiative, ‘The Last Straw’, introduced at the suggestion of 10-year-old Harriet Dawes from the 1st Fourways Cubs Pack, aims to eliminate the use of plastic straws due to the lasting damage they do, particularly to ocean life. Beverage-serving tenants on the property are encouraged to consider using alternatives to plastic straws. Ocean Basket has taken this a step further and is no longer providing plastic straws or plastic bags to their customers in any of their restaurants.

Montecasino’s waste management is outsourced to Interwaste, which manages a large, highly efficient and pristine waste area on site that was extensively upgraded about three years ago. All waste is sorted and separated, compacted, and transported to various depots for recycling, and to landfills. Special waste such as fluorescent tubes are collected by accredited specialist recycling companies and each component is recycled separately.

As a community service, Montecasino has public recycling facilities adjacent to the Pivot that are available to customers and staff, which all feed into Montecasino’s waste stream for:

• Glass,
• Cardboard and paper
• Tins
• E-Waste such as batteries or globes

Within the precinct, including the Montecasino Bird Gardens and the three hotels, each of the 40 restaurants and food court outlets has three Otto bins for:

• Food waste
• Dry waste
• Contaminated waste that cannot be recycled

The back of house operations in the food service business are monitored by Interwaste staff, who are quick to pick up mishandling of waste, according to the property’s environmental code of conduct.

At this stage, Montecasino is recycling between 35% and 40% of its total waste, with a constant focus on increasing this level.

“Every sub-contractor and tenant operating on Montecasino’s premises is given our environmental policies and is expected to comply fully,” says Page, adding that the in-house and Interwaste waste management team is constantly on the alert for any potential waste that can be recycled, such as plastic piping that might have been replaced, and any other waste. Interwaste conducts recycling training with new tenants and refresher training with existing tenants to ensure consistency and efficiency in waste recycling.

“Our waste management initiatives are crucial to our efforts to increase recycling, but possibly a bigger challenge is encouraging every person on the property – tenants, staff and visitors – to understand the need to reduce waste and to have a recycling and reusing mindset about everything they use,” says Page.

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“Seedbeds of Transformation: The Role of Science with Society and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa” is hosted by Future Earth, the South African Government Department of Science and Technology, the National Research Foundation of South Africa, and START. It will take place from 9 to 11 May 2018 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa at the Boardwalk Hotel.

Africa has made significant social progress in recent years, from enrolling children in primary schools to reducing the rate of maternal deaths and the proportion of people living in poverty. The number and diversity of African initiatives dedicated to addressing global change and sustainability challenges has also increased.

But there are huge challenges in implementing the SDGs. There are problems in tracking the SDGs due to lack of data. There are tensions and trade-offs between various SDGs– for example whether to promote water conservation or food production – and there are criticisms that the SDG framework itself is top-down and in some cases unsuitable for various African contexts.

The conference will examine different practices and approaches to working with these tensions and dilemmas from an African perspective, and enhance dialogue and openness about the challenges of working with, and implementing, the SDGs. The focus of the conference includes ocean health, ecosystem change, sustainable cities and the impact of digitalisation.

The conference will engage scholars, practitioners, and policy experts from across Africa to share information, ideas, and products that showcase innovative efforts.

Conference speakers highlights:

• Amy Luers, Executive Director of Future Earth, former Obama and Google executive
• Belay Begashaw, Director General to the Sustainable Development Goals Centre for Africa
• Peter Messerli, Co-chair UN Panel for the Global Sustainable Development Report
• Heila Lotz Sisitka, Environmental Learning Research Centre, Rhodes University
• Bernard Slippers, Director of the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria
• Solomon Assefa, Director of IBM Research Africa
• Brian Armstrong, Head of Digital Business, University of the Witwatersrand
• Karoli Njaum, Nelson Mandela African Institution for Science and Technology
• Ward Anseeuw, International Land Coalition
• Oonsie Biggs, Centre for Complex Systems in Transition, Stellenbosch University
• Bob Scholes, Distinguished Professor, Global Change and Sustainability Research Institute, Witwatersrand University
• Rike Sitas, African Centre for Cities and Mistra Urban Futures, South Africa
• Nadia Sitas, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, South Africa
• Million Belay, MELCA Ethiopia/ Alliance for food sovereignty in Africa/ Stockholm Resilience Centre, Ethiopia

Sessions include:

• Digital futures in Africa: science, policy and action
• Seeding sustainability I: pathways for change
• Power and equity dimensions of the SDGs

Examples of projects to be presented at the conference

1. Breaking down bureaucracy When sustainable development in Africa is hampered by fragmented planning and bureaucratic decision-making processes, “decision-theatres” offer an alternative. A decision-theatre can engage researchers and leaders in visualizing solutions to complex problems using the latest expertise in collaborative, computing and display technologies. The project Establishing a road-map for Africa’s first Decision-Theatres (South Africa), led by Luanita Snyman-van der Walt at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, aims at introducing decision theatres based on international best practice to the African context.
2. Dealing with plastic -Plastic waste is a growing problem in Kenya and not least so on the beaches of Mombasa. In the project Not in my ocean. Reducing marine debris in a coastal city(Kenya) David Obura from CORDIO East Africa is leading a broad team of researchers and local stakeholders in dialogues and workshops about how to reduce debris.
3. Talking trees – The project Baobab talker (Tanzania) aims at protecting the iconic, culturally important Baobab trees, the places where elders used to meet to resolve problems. The solution is a combination of maker space and dialogue: to monitor trees’ environment (making them “talk”) by fitting them with low-cost sensors on a Raspberry Pi/Arduino network, and engaging village leaders and local schools. Run by Karoli Njau from Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Tanzania, and a team of local village leaders and international researchers.

What is Future Earth?

Future Earth works to accelerate transformations to sustainability through research and innovation. We are a major international organisation that fosters a culture of engaged research based on the co-design and co-production of knowledge and tools. Our organisation is rooted in the work of 20 Global Research Projects. These networks have a long history, in some cases stretching back decades, of generating research at the forefront of sustainability science. We work to incorporate the latest research findings into government, business and community decisions and policies.

More information:

For more information on the conference themes, program, and more, go to Seedbeds of Transformation.

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