STAFF REPORTER
Turning your household waste into gold for your garden has never been easier. A 2014 study conducted by the City of Cape Town on the effectiveness of the new composting bin showed that in four months, residents participating in the study prevented nearly 13 tons of organic waste from ending up in landfills.
Now the City is inviting all homeowners to apply for a free home-composting container.
Mayco member for utility services, Ernest Sonnenberg, said the roll-out of the programme had been approved by the utility services portfolio committee on Monday April 4.
In an attempt to become a zero-waste society, the City has made 5 000 free home-composting bins available. However, due to the limited number, you will have to act fast if you want to apply for one.
Contact the City’s call centre at 0860 103 089 to request an application form or collect one from the sub-council office or walk-in centre.
You can also email wastewise @capetown.gov.za or visit www.cape town.gov.za/en/Solidwaste2/Pages/ Home-composting-application-forms.aspx
You will need to provide a copy of your ID or passport and, once the City has checked that a few simple qualification criteria are met, a new home-composting set will be delivered within 30 days.
“This will include your home-composting container and a two-litre container for temporarily storing organic kitchen waste indoors before composting, along with all the necessary information to guide you in the process,” said Mr Sonnenberg.
Only single residences and sectional title properties currently qualify for this roll-out and homeowners are to complete the application.
However, tenants can ask their landlords to countersign the application form which means that the property owner is taking responsibility for the composter, as it is to be connected to the applicant’s municipal account.
“I strongly encourage any homeowner with a garden to apply for a home-composting unit, as they will very soon see the benefits. Not only will it mean less waste going into your bin and then to landfill sites, but gardens will benefit too.
“There is also the indirect benefit of saving water, as plants need less irrigation when there is good mulch to protect the moisture in the earth,” Mr Sonnenberg said.