Cape Town - From gift packaging and food waste to beach litter, waste management groups are encouraging the public to be environmentally conscious amid the large amounts of unnecessary waste seen at this time of year.
They also weighed in on the impact holiday waste has on the environment during this period of indulgence.
The City has seen a significant increase of litter accumulating at beaches recently as thousands rush to the seaside this holiday season. However, it said the amount was not that alarming compared to previous years.
The waste was mostly packaging waste (chips, ice cream and biscuits etc) which was adequately disposed of.
Urban waste management Mayco member Grant Twigg said the excessive waste incurred during the holiday season was cause for concern but the City’s festive season programme for the beaches was paying off now as residents and visitors enjoyed clean beaches.
“This programme runs from 5am until late to keep up with the challenge of littering on the beaches,” Twigg said.
Waste-ED founder Candice Mostert said: “We live in a consumer culture, which is one of the main things we need to target and deal with. It is not just during holidays and Christmas times. Waste is a daily issue and it is just a bit heightened, because we all want to relax, enjoy ourselves and gift our families.”
If people intended to spend their days at the parks, picnic sites or beaches, Mostert said they should consider getting compostable or reusable cups and other products instead of polystyrene single-use products.
Reusable products could be used for utensils and the like, while compostable products could be used for things that didn’t generally have a reusable function, such as serviettes.
Mikel Kumalo, owner of Mike's Recycling Workshop, said: “As long as a human being is able to survive, there is going to be a resulting generation of waste.”
Twigg added: “We want to encourage residents and visitors to participate in keeping the environment clean. Holidays should be treated the same as any other day. Every person must take responsibility for their waste in line with the Extended Producer Responsibility regulations.”