IT was with total dismay that I stood at the refuse transfer station in Distillery Street, Paarl, and saw my carefully rinsed out plastic containers, polystyrene trays and tins disappear into a hole in the ground.
This was followed by collected newspapers, old magazines and cardboard boxes. WHY?? Because the recycling plant is closed. There is no signs stating why and no alternative offered. I shudder to think of all the recyclable plastic bottles and tins, discarded after all the sport derbies in Paarl, ending up under ground and polluting our town, country and world.
With recycling, going green, carbon footprint and global warming being some of the buzz words, Paarl is going backward. I am positive that I am not the only person passionate about recycling. My collection is growing again, trusting that by the time I have enough to fill my car I will have found a place or organisation accepting these recyclables.
Erika Denny
The municipal spokesperson replies: The Drakenstein Municipality is currently busy with the upgrading of the Distillery Street facility, but the public can still deliver their recyclables to this station currently.
The completion of this facility, which will include a specific lane for recyclables, is scheduled for the end of September.
A tender has been advertised for a contractor to run the recycling plant, and it should be up and running by the end of next month.
There are also bottle and paper banks at the facility and at the Wellington refuse dump. Many schools also accept paper and glass for recycling and there are bottle banks throughout the municipal area.
For enquiries, phone the civil engineering department on 021 807 4715.
