Take Part in the #CleanUpNamibia2019 Campaign
Are you planning to participate or host a clean up in this year’s national #cleanupnamibia2019 initiative?
Well done! Whether it’s a small clean up campaign in your neighbourhood, or a larger campaign involving your colleagues, school friends or community, we have some hints and tips on how to put together your campaign!
So, why do we need to clean up Namibia?
Because, where there are people – there will be waste. In Namibia, every citizen in a town or city will generate around 3kilogram of waste per day, and those in rural areas just under 1 kilogram. This amounts to a considerable volume that our local authorities need to take care of on a daily basis.
And if people did not litter – then there would be no need for a clean up.
Kicking Litter to The Curb
Litter is ugly, it pollutes the environment, reduces property values and impacts on tourism.
It invites more litter and worse, crime.
littering is expensive to clean up.
Drivers and pedestrians litter deliberately, but there are other sources of litter such as uncovered and overfilled trash containers, illegal dumping of trash, and uncovered trucks transporting waste.
If a dumpsite or landfill is not fenced in, lighter items such as plastic carrier bags are blown around by the wind, or end up in and block storm water drains. It is also a health risk for animals.
It has been proven that getting together a group of residents to participate in cleaning up their towns, will improve the sense of community, the quality of people’s lives and their local environment.
Another positive aspect is the educational angle of a clean-up – it gives you a platform to promote anti-littering campaigns and distribute information, and also to create awareness that numerous items collected in a clean-up, can and should be recycled.
The following is essential for an effective campaign:
Establish a date / time for your clean up campaign – this will ensure you have time to publicise the event, and get your local community involved;
Determine and demarcate the area you are planning to clean – Bear in mind the number of volunteers, and the area you want to have cleaned up. Also check the entire area for possible safety hazards.
Involve your Town / Municipal Council – so that they can assist you with the logistics of collecting and removal of the collected waste.
Approach your community / volunteers to assist – Contact all schools and educational institutions in the vicinity to get their input and support to join in your clean-up, and also speed up the collection of the refuse.
Encourage sorting of recyclables and non-recyclables – this will encourage awareness of the 3 R’s of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, and will considerably reduce the volume that needs to be taken to landfill.
This year, a special refuse bags for waste and recyclables are available – Ensure your team are informed about what should go into the recyclable bags!
Advertise your clean-up – Make use of cost-effective and fast ways to do so via social media and radio!
Safety First – If you have children / youth participating, it may be a good idea to have an indemnity letter to be signed by the parents. Ensure kids do not clean up along busy roads or areas which may pose a risk.
Equip your team with : Hats / caps; Sunscreen, Closed shoes, Gloves / masks (if available)
Reusable water bottle / container
Remember to take photographs of your team at work and post them on social media by using the official hashtag #cleanupnamibia2019
The RNF is currently keeping track of the total volume of waste that has been collected during clean up campaigns, and it is appreciated if you could submit the information for our statistics to coordinator@rnf.com.na
Courtesy of:-
Anita Witt
Coordinator
Recycle Namibia Forum
081 122 6063