The WasteWise Campaign, Education Component

General Communities: Waste Wise Community System (WWCS) Schools: Waste Wise Schools Programme (WWSP) Institutions: institutional best practice programme Industry and Commerce: Waste Minimisation Clubs Special Events Clean City Awards

The education component of the WasteWise Campaign is involved with developing educational strategies for communities, schools, institutions and industry. The overall aim is to encourage these sectors, through innovative education and awareness programmes, to change their perceptions about waste and become involved in cleaning up the city and keeping it clean.

The Fairest Cape Association (FCA) is the agency responsible for implementing the WasteWise education component. Programmes the FCA is currently running in this regard include:

• the Waste Wise Community System
  
• the Waste Wise Schools Programme
  
• special events waste management practice
  
• an institutional best practice programme
  
• Clean City Awards

For more information, contact the FCA (Tel: 021 462 2060).

In addition to the education component, a WasteWise media campaign has been developed by Liebenberg and Stander and Mehlo Media to raise public awareness and provide information about Cape Town's waste crisis. In order to reach as large an audience as possible, this aspect of the campaign has taken a multi-media approach, using posters, billboards, radio slots, newspaper advertisements and editorials to highlight the problems of littering and illegal dumping.

Communities: Waste Wise Community System (WWCS)


This programme is designed to address community needs as regards waste and includes all community stakeholder groups, such as councillors, city officials, civic organisations and NGOs. WWCS aims to create public awareness of the consequences of poorly managed waste and the benefits of integrated waste management.

The focus is on waste and related issues such as health and safety and beautification. However, to ensure a holistic approach to community needs, WasteWise-FCA also facilitates between the other city service departments such as environmental health, parks and amenities, catchment management, cleansing and law enforcement.

WWCS undertakes a review of service delivery on a ward or suburb basis, and forms the platform on which a representative steering committee, elected by the public, prioritises objectives for the particular area. The group then implements objectives and a detailed plan of action. Objectives could include cleaning, greening, adopt-a-spot, community recycling, and monitoring illegal dumping.

The programme provides workshops; visits to transfer stations, composting plants and landfill sites; and discussions to increase community capacity-building for managing projects.

The desired outcome of WWCS is to have a clean environment for which residents can feel pride and ownership, and to work in partnership with council agents, NGOs etc. so as to sustain and improve community living and working space.

Where possible, a WWSP is run in conjunction with the community programme to empower learners and teachers with the capacity to assist the community in achieving its objectives.

Learners are taught the basics of the integrated waste management process; how various waste material types impact on the land, water and air; and how each individual's actions regarding waste affect the environment.

The desired outcome of the programme is for learners to take care of their school space and immediate surrounds, and to take best practices back into the home.

Educational tools, such as industrial theatre, are used to reinforce the message taken to communities and schools.

Institutions: institutional best practice programme


This year the WasteWise focus as regards institutions is on health facilities. . A pilot waste management project is being run at Children's Red Cross Hospital as well as targeted clinics. The programme will involve:

• Guidance as to the correct disposal of medical and hazardous waste
  
• Discussing the benefits of integrated waste management and encouraging its implementation
  
• Providing resource materials in captive audience areas such as waiting rooms, to further inform and educate the public.

Industry and Commerce: Waste Minimisation Clubs


Waste Minimisation Clubs (WMCs) are an initiative to raise awareness about waste issues in the industrial and commercial sector. WMCs encourage companies to be proactive about minimising waste at source i.e. tackling the cause of the problem and not just the symptoms, and thereby benefiting both the business and the environment. The BECO Institute for Sustainable Business is involved in recruiting companies to join WMCs in Cape Town, and will also be responsible for facilitating these. Learn More: Your Business and Waste

Special Events


Events organisers appreciate that unmanaged waste causes immediate degradation of the natural and built environment. WasteWise-FCA has an advisor who can assist organisers to plan and better manage the waste generated by an event.

At the same time, events present an opportunity to target a captive audience on the consequences of poorly managed waste and the benefits of integrated waste management.

Clean City Awards

The Awards are designed to encourage action on the ground by providing a structure and incentive for participants to develop workable waste reduction projects.

Group Categories:

• Participants are invited to enter projects in one of the following categories:
  
• Individuals
  
• Youth and community groups
  
• Schools and tertiary institutions
  
• Commerce and industry (small and large)
  
• Recreational venues and hospitality sites
  
• Local, provincial and national government buildings and sites
  
• Public transport

• Run an anti-litter awareness campaign; clean your school, community or business; adopt a plot, beach, park, river or street and green or create a food garden.
  
• Waste minimisation through recycling, reuse or making saleable items from waste.
  
• Develop innovative waste-related projects e.g. action research projects, educational resources, etc.

• Improve the environment
  
• Benefit participants
  
• Be educational
  
• Have a clear environmental message
  
• Achieve tangible results
  
• Be sustainable

Projects entered in the competition will run for a four-month period, and work will be monitored and support provided through training workshops. Prizes will assist in sustaining the projects. Best practices will be showcased.

Entry forms are available from the FCA, online at www.capechamber.co.za. Received entry forms will be confirmed telephonically and a questionnaire sent. This form should be returned to the FCA by 1 July 2002.

The awards will be presented in late September 2002.