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MOSSEL BAY NEWS AND VIDEO - The eViwe Community Centre management board, led by Bongani Swartbooi and eViwe centre practioner Nomboniso Rooiland, engaged the management of Henque Waste in the PetroSA industrial area to make available its plant for an educational tour for the eViwe children.
This tour took place on Wednesday, 21 April and the purpose of it was to educate children about waste.
"We have realised that children, especially in the township, are growing up in an environment where they have no knowledge of the importance of recycling and its end goal," says Swartbooi.
They took children from age three to 12 years, who are at the centre in the Day Care, Toy Library and After School Care sections, on the tour.
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The tour was to lay a foundation so that children could learn what happens with waste taken from home, outside the home, shops, schools, companies and malls, and where the waste goes.
During the visit the children learnt more about the collection process, the vehicles used and processing inside the plant. They also learnt where the bulk product is taken and how the company makes money from recycling.
What amazed the older ones was that the same quantity of a product did not lose its value when reproduced.
According to Swartbooi the aim of this initiative by eViwe is to change the status quo, in which people throw waste where they like. In the township beer bottles are thrown in the middle of the street and children learn this is a good thing to do. The same broken bottles cause damage to cars and people.
"This will be a yearly programme, going to all recycling plants for our children to learn more about recycling and changing the mindset of our children so they can take the message to their homes and to their parents," says Swartbooi.
At the plant the children were shown a lot of familiar waste used every day in every household. Jan Schoonraad, the manager at the Henque waste plant took them on a tour and explained the processes of the waste being recycled to produce similar or other products. After the tour the children were treated with cooldrinks and snacks before they returned to the centre.
"Our organisation thanks the management of Henque Waste," says Witbooi.
Children from the eViwe Community Centre visiting the Henque Waste recycling plant. Photo: Jannie du Plessis
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