Sabrina Dean
Tenants moving in to the new Brandwag Social Housing Project (BSHP) will have to think out of the “dustbin” about how they dispose of their waste if they want to hold their heads up high. According to Anita Venter from the University of the Free State’s Centre for Development Support, the lease agreement signed by tenants taking up residence in BHSP contains a unique recycling clause. “This is something that hasn’t been done before and we are hoping to start a trend,” she said.
She said it is not so much about enforcing a rule or threatening tenants with eviction, but rather a cohesive, consultative process. “All new residents undergo a socio-facilitation session and are made aware of how they should use the recycling bins and so forth,” she said. The Brandwag project recycling initiative is the brainchild of several roleplayers, including the non-profit Free State Social Housing Company, the Clean & Green Free State Campaign, the BCF Property Group and the UFS Centre for Development Support.
Johann Dannhauser, founder of the Clean & Green Free State campaign, said one has to give the Free State Housing Company credit for its open-mindedness in incorporating this recycling aspect in the high density development.
“They are a group of young people who really want to make a difference,” he said. He said the clause in the agreement doesn’t necessarily place a legal obligation on tenants. He said, however, every household will be able to participate in the recycling initiative and accumulate points. “It is not about winning prizes necessarily, it is more of a moral thing,” he said. According to Venter, the FSHC client services and property management team will provide on-site demonstrations on how residents can dispose of waste responsibly. She said they will also provide information about the environmental value of reducing, re-using or recycling waste wherever feasible.
Residents will have to separate recyclable waste such as paper, plastics, glass and metal from non-recyclable waste before placing it in the appropriate bin at the flats. The initiative has been in development for the past eight months and is aimed at changing people’s behaviour towards waste management. It has been designed specifically around high density social housing.
According to roleplayers, it distinguishes “the FSHC from any other social housing company in South Africa and even the world”.
Venter said the bins have arrived on the premises, but relevant printing work still needs to be completed. “We are still finalising several logistics, which should be done within the next few weeks,” she said.
