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Nelson Mandela Bay residents and businesses operating in the Baaken’s River Valley area can take comfort in the knowledge that the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, through its development entity the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA), has recently commenced with the MBDA Recyclable Materials’ Programme and is leaving a green footprint in the Bay.

The initiative is part of the NMBM Go Green campaign in response to the international call to reduce toxic gases and the destruction of trees, and promote healthy lifestyles, tree planting, vegetable gardens, recycling, the use of public transport, cycling, and walking and burning less fuel/coal, amongst others.

“Learning from our parent body, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, the MBDA has launched this Go Green initiative, directed at alleviating poverty and promoting economic growth, and adopting two of the Municipality’s Key Performance Elements, the OutReach Programme and Environmental Management,” said MBDA CEO, Pierre Voges.

The MBDA’s Recyclable Materials’ Programme commenced in 2010, just before the start of the World Cup, through the introduction of two colourfully painted MBDA containers placed in Govan Mbeki Avenue and Parliament Street.

Voges revealed that they appointed Majoka Cleaning Services through a proper tender process to manage, run and beneft from the initiative by creating jobs for the unemployed.

The NMBM, through the MBDA, will provide the necessary infrastructure for the initiative, giving guidance to the service provider, linking the service provider with businesses in the

area and to monitor the progress made, as this initiative will be emulated in other areas of the city, if successful.

Portfolio Chairperson for Public Health, Cllr Pat Ndlovu, encouraged members of the public to participate in the recycling

project by collecting all recyclable materials such as cardboard boxes, bottles, cans, plastic bottles, plastic, newspapers and printing paper, and dropping them off at the MBDA Baakens River Valley site.

“I am encouraging members of the public to adopt and own this initiative, as it will certainly create jobs, alleviate poverty and reduce rubbish and toxic gases in our environment, and contribute to the economy of the city,” said Cllr Ndlovu.

The recyclable goods will be sorted, separated for selling, washed and cleaned in the preparation process, prepared for reuse and manufactured into goods such as bags, candle holders, shoebags, placemats and doorstops.

Anyone who would like to participate can deliver their unwanted recyclable materials to the Baakens Valley site. If it is a large load, contact Tereza Mbali of Majoka Cleaning Services on 083 569 4472 to collect it for free.

The Baakens Valley site is open from 8am to 5pm on weekdays, and from 8am to 1pm on Saturdays.

34 UBUNTU COMMUNITY MAGAZINE MARCH I APRIL 2012

Portfolio Chairperson for Public Health, Cllr Pat Ndlovu.