Limpopo now has the support of the Defence and Security Forces in the fight against pollution. The South African Military Health Service (SAMHS) training centre recently launched a source separation recycling initiative in the province, which is located in the northern part of South Africa. We intend to practice responsible waste management and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill,” says Colonel Mphashi, SAMHS commander.
SAMHS will draw on the expertise of the South African PET Recycling Company (PETCO), with whom it has signed a partnership agreement.
A strategic partnership
As part of the source-separated recycling initiative, SAMHS will equip its kitchens and accommodation with bins and cages where waste will be stored depending on whether it is recyclable or not. “The centre conducts basic military training courses and hosts up to 250 new recruits at any one time, generating tons of waste currently destined for landfill,” says SAMHS.
The recyclable waste will be transported to a six-cubic-metre container, provided by PETCO. The company, which recycled 2.1 billion plastic bottles in 2021, crushes the waste and processes it. The plastic waste in this case is transformed into granules, useful for the production of fibre and clothing.
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The completion of this project will help improve sanitation in the city of Lephalale and reduce the amount of waste generated in South Africa, estimated at 12.7 million tonnes annually. Ultimately, the source separation initiative will support the recycling activities initiated in recent years in Lephalale by SAMHS, again in collaboration with PETCO.
Inès Magoum