Eco Minute 13:30

BULLETIN 7 July 1:30 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Eco Minute:

# As global pressure mounts to reduce plastic use, Plastics SA is calling for smarter, evidence-based solutions, not blanket bans. South Africa produces nearly 2.5-million tons of plastic a year. The country also boasts some of the highest mechanical recycling rates in the world for developing countries, with over 28-percent of post-consumer plastics being recycled locally. Plastics SA’s executive director, Anton Hanekom, says citizens must prioritise responsible consumption, collection, sorting and improved recycling systems, and innovation in product design and end-of-life solutions.

# One of Africa’s most elusive and threatened birds, the White-winged Flufftail, has been downlisted from critically endangered to endangered in South Africa. This comes as a result of significant advances in understanding the biology, breeding range, and habitat preferences of the secretive flufftail. BirdLife South Africa CEO, Mark Anderson, says with Ethiopia having sufficient habitat to support only 55 breeding pairs, South Africa plays an important role in preventing the extinction of the species.

# And finally: The City of Cape Town is advising all recycling buyback centres to register for accreditation before the 31st of July to avoid a fine. These are the businesses that buy recyclables from waste-pickers and recycling service providers. Mayoral committee member for Urban Waste Management, Grant Twigg, says recycling buyback centres play a vital role in Cape Town’s circular economy:

Stay tuned for more news………….