The City of Johannesburg has recently implemented its ‘separation at source’ programme in a bid to cut down on pollution and help save the environment.

Separation at source refers to households setting aside dry recyclable waste (plastic, paper, glass and cans) and household generated garden waste for the purpose of re-use, recycling, composting or further processing of these materials. In preparation for this move, Pikitup released a guideline of how exactly the programme will work.

According to Pikitup, residents in areas where the separation at source is mandatory will be issued with a clear plastic bag or a blue bag on a weekly basis to place recyclable materials such as: paper, plastic, metal and glass inside the bag for collection on a weekly basis. In terms of the mandatory separation at source programme, residents are also required to recycle their garden waste. In this regard, residents are required to drop-off their households generated garden waste at Pikitup’s drop off sites for the purpose of compositing and or further processing, it said.

“It added that the mandatory separation at source only applies in areas where the programme has been implemented on a voluntary basis since 2009 The city has said that there are currently no penalties for those who don’t recycle. “This in order for residents to be given the opportunity to improve the recycling rates in the affected areas, without the threat of a fine being imposed,” it said. “The city will also be intensifying education and awareness programmes to positively influence the recycling rates in areas where separation at source is mandatory.” It added that it plans to roll the project out to the entire of City of Joburg over the next three years.