Green living has taken us by storm, as it should. The current drought has shown us how dependent we are on this fragile planet, and how we must do all in our power to protect and sustain it. The City of Cape Town has launched a fantastic initiative to help us live more eco-friendly lives.
On Tuesday 5 April 2016, The City of Cape Town invited residents to apply for a free home composting container, which will enable you to make use of your waste more productively. The units were available to only the first 5000 applicants. The city responded with great enthusiasm, and the target was reached. This response proves that there are many people out there who care for the environment.
Home owners in the #CityofCapeTown municipality CHECK this out! I’m applying tomorrow… https://t.co/LikxocWlSc
— Call Claudia (@ClaudiaProperty) April 5, 2016
If you missed out on getting your composting container, don’t worry. There will be an additional 5000 units available in the next phase of roll-out shortly, after July 2016. Look out for the city’s media releases and website for more information. You will be able to find out when the next phase begins and when you can submit an application.
#CityofCapeTown Home Composting Programme -apply now to take part https://t.co/kyxeyTKmwk — Cape Town Green Map (@capetwngreenmap) April 5, 2016
Making the home composting containers available is in line with the city’s goal towards becoming a zero-waste society.
The home composting set includes a home-composting container and a two-litre container for temporarily storing organic kitchen waste indoors before composting. You will also receive all the necessary information to guide you in the process.
For the initial roll-out phase, only single residences and sectional title properties qualified. The homeowner was responsible for performing the application. However, tenants could ask their landlords to countersign the application form. This means that the property owner takes responsibility for the composter, as it will be connected to the applicant’s municipal account.
If you are a homeowner with a garden, you should consider applying for a home-composting unit, as you will soon see the benefits. Less waste will go into your bin and then to landfill sites, and your garden will reap the rewards too. Also, you will save water as plants require less irrigation when there is good mulch to protect the moisture in the earth.
The following types of organic household waste can go in the home composting container: fruit and vegetable waste, eggshells, teabags, paper, vacuum cleaner contents, leaves, grass, and sawdust.
The more we all recycle, re-use, and compost, the less pressure we will put on landfills and the environment and the closer we will become to being a zero-waste society.
Photography courtesy City of Cape Town
