Pikitup encourages Joburg’s youth to recycle at its first Youth Stakeholder Summit

Mr Lawrence Boya, Acting Managing Director

“Johannesburg’s landfills are filling up at an alarming rate, hence the tremendous pressure to protect our environment. The power to conserve our environment lies with each of us, as each individual contributes to the overall picture of landfill preservation. It is in this spirit, that we must proactively practise recycling and other waste minimisation practises. I believe, that it all starts here and now, with our future leaders – you, the youth of Joburg,” said Pikitup’s Acting Managing Director, Lawrence Boya at today’s Pikitup Youth Stakeholder Summit, which was held at the Alec Gorshel Hall at the Braamfontein Recreation Centre.

In keeping with Youth Month, the objectives of the Summit included:

• Educating the youth on various issues of waste and pollution management which included the environmental impact of waste
• Promoting and demonstrating poverty alleviation and job creation through waste management projects
• Improving dialogue within the civil, social and public sector on the implementation of the Waste Minimisation Strategy, which will culminate in the implementation of an integrated waste management strategy for the City of Joburg
• Focusing on the reduction of general waste to landfills through waste minimisation and other recycling initiatives
• Showcasing opportunities in the waste management sector

“Not only does illegal dumping cost us millions of rands each year, it also contributes to health issues brought on through littering and poorly disposed of waste. We urge the citizens of Joburg to practice effective waste management practices, such as the separation of waste at household level, and recycling.” said Boya.

“We are aware that many young people have started waste minimisation initiatives, such as the cleaning of open spaces, the organisation of bin cleaning groups, refuse reclamation and recycling. Their efforts in preserving our environment do not go unnoticed, and we thank them for committing to a promising future, and towards a city that is resilient, sustainable and liveable. Their efforts will live on in the years to come by being clearly visible in our environment,” noted Boya.

Other speakers at today’s summit included Shadrack Kapiwa, General Manager of Communications & Stakeholder Relations at Pikitup who delivered a presentation on the effects of illegal dumping, and Roelf de Beer, Pikitup’s project manager who educated the youth on how to separate waste at source as well as recycling, while PETCO’s Communications Manager, Kea Nkitseng, informed the audience about the opportunities which lie in the waste industry.
26/06/2012

Issued by: Pikitup
For any further information please contact:
Pansy Oyedele
Communications Manager
+27 11 712 5200
+27 79 526 9299
pansyjali@pikitup.co.za

Melissa Padia
Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide
+27 11 709 6831
+27 82 959 5767
melissa.padia@ogilvypr.co.za

Photographs courtesy "BIG MEDIA"

Media - Pikitup encourages Joburg’s youth