greenspace

MBABANE – The different companies in Eswatini organized a mass garbage pick-up, collecting more than 30 bags full of trash yesterday.

This was done as a response to a campaign launch by Prime Minister Ambrose Dlamini on July 11, 2019, to keep Eswatini clean at all times. Yesterday morning, equipped with recycled refuse bags and a strong sense of motivation to clean up Sheffield Road, around 40 volunteers from various companies paraded down the streets of Sheffield and Siteshi road, a 400-metre stretch, filling over 30 bags with litter in under an hour.

The companies involved were; The Times of Swaziland, Bandag Tyres, Prime Bakeries, C-Class Restaurant, Universal Panel Beaters, The Oxtail Pot Restaurant, Kwik Fit, House of Lords and Green Cubic.

The purpose of the campaign was to raise awareness about the substantial amount of litter being left on the side of streets instead of inside garbage bins, which the Municipal Council of Mbabane has provided along the streets

It was noted that the majority of the collected trash were plastics, more specifically plastic bottles, Styrofoam containers, candy wrappers, straws and plastic bags.

According to research, plastic is manufactured using four to eight per cent of global oil, which puts it under the category of non-degradable substances. In short, it takes longer to break down.

“Instead of decomposing like natural waste, plastic tends to break down into smaller pieces called micro-plastic,” the research states. It is broken down through photo-degradation (UV radiation) but takes many years to go through the process. Research shows that plastic bottles can take up to 450 years to completely break down.

This campaign sheds light on how vital it is for the citizens of Eswatini to dispose of trash properly. Plastics should be placed in recycling bins, as plastics can be reused. “We want to remind everyone to reuse, reduce and recycle. This ensures a clean environment for the future,” Times News Editor Cassandra Shaw said.

She further invited more companies and individuals to join the campaign so that the environment is conserved for future generations.