From Plastic Waste to Bath Mats - A Mdantsane Recycling Initiative

We do not need to ask the question: Is there too much waste in Mdantsane? 

Everybody who has been to Mdantsane knows, that waste management and sanitation are the biggest challenges for the township. Two challenges, that have not even reached the stage of coming close to being mastered. 

Let us show you the good pictures first! There are initiatives in Mdantsane, that try to fight the problem. And they are doing it at grass root level.

Yellow and white striped bath mat made from plastic waste

The bath mats of the Sizamile Women's Group are entirely recycled and crocheted from stripes, that have been cut from discarded plastic shopping bags.

The project is still in its baby shoes and encounters the same problems like many other well meant initiatives in the township, starting with product development and design to make products desirable so that they are bought for their value and not out of charity ending with the lack of proper marketing, project management, public relations, accounting and branding skills and techniques.

Entirely recycled and made in Mdantsane - but still a long way to go.

The recycling project was started by the women alone and the idea is remarkable. But to turn it into an income generating "green project"  the women have a long way to go. 

Consumers all over the world are willing to support green businesses and projects, not only to do good but for their own sake as well. In the end the costumer is interested in eating better, healthier food and in being surrounded by cleaner less hazardous products, that have been produced by taking the environment and the beauty of our dear world into consideration. 

Beautiful and unusual - a green product, handmade and recycled

A well designed and developed proper waste management system is based on the willing participation of all stakeholders involved. 

The municipality can clean up only so much. The residents have to do their part.

Mdantsane and its waste management problem

But in a case like Mdantsane we have to consider several factors: the long history of neglect and discrimination, that the township has endured, the complete lack of environmental education in schools in Mdantsane, and last but not least the fact that poverty reduces drastically a person's capacity and energy to get involved in environmental projects because the fight for survival, for food and shelter is the main concern in that person's mind.

Let's rather say Mdantsane has a plastic problem............

We also have to ask the question: what is here defined as waste? In a location like Mdantsane the definition of waste differs most likely from suburban East London. People in well developed and groomed suburbs throw different things away, than people in squatter camps.

The beautiful old proverb says so wisely: what one man considers as junk or waste can well constitute another man's treasure.

Simply falling apart - but not waste

There are structures, where time has taken its toll and they are falling apart. But they can not necessarily be considered waste. Collecting scrap metal is a source of income for many. 

Wilsonia's scrap yards, an industrial area in East London are busiest on Monday mornings. Collectors are standing in long queues to deliver the metal they have collected over the week-end.  

Metal still has a use and monetary value. Collecting it is an income generating activity for many.

Mdantsane, like many other regions and countries suffers from a disease, that is slowly killing Africa's nature and environment - plastic waste. Africa's waste problem is predominantly a plastic waste problem.
Non degradable, wind torn plastic is found everywhere, in streets, in trees, on fences, in animals stomachs and in any other place you can imagine.

The Endaweni Lounge

Even a most successful and hip business like the Endaweni Lounge has waste problems displayed in front of the door of their music lounge. What can be done about it? The owners are aware of it and they are trying to sort out their waste problem by themselves. 

But it takes capital and investment as well, they say. How does one recycle and discard of thousands of glass bottles and cans, guests have been drinking in a couple of days, if only once a week trash is collected by the municipality?

 

Recycled plastic carpet in burnt orange made by the Sizamile Women's Group

One can argue, that recycling projects like the one of the Sizamile Women's group are only a drop on a hot stone but they are a conscious start to do something about it.

Back side of the recycled carpet

But we can also argue, that for us, who would like to see a change in the cleanliness of our environment this means, that we have to support grass roots recycling projects like Sizamile. Can we say it is our duty to make an effort and buy from them instead from Mr. Price in town. 

A cleaner environment for everyone.... poverty is a great obstacle

If self help initiatives and recycling projects like Sizamile are not supported they "fall into idle". 

Waste in Mdantsane

And once in idle it is difficult to get out again. Out of a sudden a costumer comes and want to order a product and the group or business can not produce it in the time required.

Waste turned into a consumer product

Why? There are numerous reasons. Life itself is one of them. The members of the group can not be found because nobody has given them an order for so long. So why come to the workshop if there are no costumers. It is discouraging! It would be for you too. So you go along with your life and look for other opportunities although you had a great business idea there! There are government grants to keep you alive.

Back side of  a hand crocheted bath mat made by the Sizamile Women's Group

Made from this.....

 

And frankly you have enough now of all that project and sustainability talk. You have set up an NGO, you have learned what a constitution is but really it did not give you food.

What have they told you: Consumers all over the world are willing to support green businesses and projects, not only to do good but for their own sake as well. In the end the costumer is interested in eating better, healthier food and in being surrounded by cleaner less hazardous products, that have been produced by taking the environment and the beauty of our dear world into consideration.  

How can you make them come to you? To Nu 5 in Mdantsane?

Something beautiful made from waste

And then there is this thing with the symmetry! Costumers like to buy handcrafted products, they love African crafters but it is good if a product has symmetry! Symmetry means the product has to have the same dimensions on each side.

That is another thing that does not come easy!

Waste or not?

 

Supporting Recycling initiatives is important

A Sizamile Product

Handmade Carpet in earthy colors - rather a piece of art for some