More than 200 students participated in DUT’s joint Anti-Litter Campaign with eThekwini Municipality, on 8 September, in a drive to create awareness on environmental conservation by encouraging the academic community to put an end to littering through recycling initiatives.
The collaborative project was launched by Dr Kenneth Netshiombo, Executive Dean of Health and was endorsed by the office of DVC Academic, Prof Nqabomzi Gawe with student support from the Environmental Heath programme, the Health Advisory Students Organisation (HASO) and the Department of Health and Safety.
Project Manager, Lihlo said the joint initiative between DUT and the City is an intended long term partnership that will look at alternative ways of incorporating efforts by industry and research stakeholders. “We want to inculcate a culture of cleanliness within the University’s communities. The Anti-Litter campaign was supported by eThekwini Municipality’s Durban Solid Waste and the Health Unit: Pollution Control and involved the participation of students from Ritson, Steve Biko and ML Sultan campuses. The project will focus on constant monitoring litter hotspots using litter marshals and ways to encourage students to keep their environment clean”, he said.
DSW Education Office, Noxolo Mcobongwana said the project intends to provide recycling bins at strategic points to encourage students to segregate waste for recycling purposes. “The recycling bins encourage the public to separate waste into paper, cans, plastic and glass. Through this initiative we want to eradicate the perception that littering creates jobs by highlighting the environmental impact of pollution.
Senior Technician at the Health Unit: Pollution Control, Phumlani Ngema said: “The project is a good education tool which focuses on sustaining the environment. Waste segregation is important and can be used to create employment opportunities through recycling projects. The project can be enhanced by implementing an institutional policy on waste recycling. We also want to encourage the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, which is a global warming gas, together with other toxic gasses which are released into the environment through burning of plastic mixed with other waste including rubber. These harmful gases known as Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) together with dioxins and furans pose increased health risks with respiratory tract infections being common symptoms.”
Pictured: Prof Nqabomzi Gawe (Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Institutional Support) , Dr Kenneth Netshiombo (Executive Dean: Faculty o Arts and Design) and Mr Lehlohonolo Mokhohlouloane from DUT Health and Safety with the student volunteers for Anti-Litter Campaign
By Karishma Ganpath
Photographer Bhekani Dlamini
