The Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Bernice Swart, officially launched the E-Waste Recycling Pilot Project at Makonde Stadium last Wednesday (26 March).
Addressing more than 10,000 villagers from across the Vhembe District, the Deputy Minister said the government had embarked on a journey towards creating a cleaner and more sustainable environment.
She said the initiative, which is a key part of national efforts to manage waste more effectively, demonstrated the government's commitment to tackling one of the world's most pressing environmental challenges: electronic waste (e-waste).
"As many of us are aware, e-waste is growing at an alarming rate. It is now considered the fastest-growing waste stream worldwide. The proliferation of technology and the consumer-driven nature of our society have led to millions of tonnes of electronic devices being discarded each year," she said.
She added that these devices, which include everything from old cell phones and laptops to televisions and household appliances, contain harmful materials such as lead, mercury, and other toxic chemicals that could have devastating effects on the environment and human health if not properly managed.
"In the Thulamela Local Municipality, like in many other parts of our country, improper disposal of e-waste has become a growing concern. As we all know, the municipality faces challenges with waste management," she said.
She said three producer responsibility organisations (PROs) would participate in the Thulamela Local Municipality: EWASA, Circular Energy, and R2E2.
The PROs will set up collection points where community members can bring their e-waste. The waste will then be weighed, recorded, and linked to the person's details.
An incentive will be paid via cellphone based on a rand-per-kilogram scale, with a minimum payout starting from R1 per kilogram, depending on the weight and type of item. Payments will be made via EFT and MTN MoMo.
In addition to this initiative, participants will receive vouchers ranging from R30 to R50, depending on the number of items dropped off. A "spin-the-wheel" competition will also offer a chance to win extra vouchers, ranging from R0 to R100. The vouchers will be redeemable at Shoprite/Checkers.
"The PROs will be working with local collectors based in Limpopo and specifically in the Vhembe District," she said.
She emphasised that the goal of the pilot project is to test and implement a sustainable system for recycling e-waste in the Thulamela Local Municipality.
"This initiative is being launched in partnership with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), Thulamela Local Municipality, Vhembe District Municipality, industry partners, and the PROs," she said.
She urged community members not to dump their waste in the streets but to take it to the PROs, where they would be paid for disposing of it properly.
"If you see people dumping garbage in the streets, pick it up and dump it in their yards," she said.
More than 1,000 people from Makonde and the surrounding villages of Khubvi, Muhuyu, and Matangari brought old stoves, fridges, and discarded washing basins to be weighed in exchange for money.
Tshilidzi Ravhura from Khubvi village said she was happy to have found a place to dispose of her old and unused household items while earning money at the same time. "I also learned that it is healthier to live in a clean and safe environment. When collecting old items like stoves and fridges from our backyards, some people found snakes living inside dumped fridges, so it is very dangerous to live in a place with a lot of discarded appliances and waste," she said.
Ravhura added that after taking her old fridge and stove to be weighed on Wednesday, she had received a voucher worth R739. "Since I am unemployed, I will now go around the villages asking for old appliances to take to the PROs and make a living," she said.