Clean, green creates more jobs

Mkhululi Ndamase

A CLEANER and greener metro is the message the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) is trying to convey with their recycling project, and they are hoping residents will try and make their households green.
The initiative has been up and running since the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup tournament and has created many job-opportunities in the process.
MBDA operations manager, Mcebisi Ncalu, said they appointed a service provider to do the recycling.
"We first made available two containers in Parliament Street and Goven Mbeki Avenue.
"It was later felt the project should be moved to the Baakens River valley,” Ncalu said.
"We appointed a service provider through the tender process to collect and sell recyclable materials like glass, cardboard, paper and tin to generate revenue.”
Ncalu added the MBDA is not expecting any returns from the project.
"The revenue goes to the service provider, Majoka Cleaning Services,” he said.
For now the project is only at the Baakens River Valley, but plans are in place to take it to other areas.
"Our intention is to take it to a higher level. It will be expected from the service provider to maybe create wood in the future.
"It is also expected from the service provider to visit various communities around the Bay, and share their skills with the underprivileged,” Ncalu said.
MBDA spokeswoman, Chuma Myoli, said one of the agency's objectives was to make sure the private sector invests in the city.
"The plan is to create jobs and keep the city clean.
"We are currently cleaning the Tramways Building – where we expect our office base to be,” Myoli said.
"The project is part of the Urban Renewal Project. We do not want any returns on the project, but we want the private sector to come back and invest in the CBD.
"We intend to replicate the initiative in other areas of the metro. We are currently looking for a site in Uitenhage.”