The Institute of Waste Management South Africa (IWMSA) is southern Africa’s waste management industry body and strives towards a cleaner and greener environment.
The IWMSA stresses the importance of caring for the environment all year round and calls on all individuals and organisations to reduce their carbon footprint.
“We encourage everyone to make a small change each day to their daily routine; small steps make big impacts!” says Prof. Suzan Oelofse, President of the IWMSA.
Here are a few tips to follow in order to be more environmentally conscious on a daily basis:
- Save water – turn off the tap when you are washing your face, brushing your teeth or doing the dishes.
- Save electricity – turn off the geyser and switch off the lights when you are not using them. Switch off and unplug appliances at the wall when not in use – even when not in use, they still use electricity.
- Shop smarter – take your own shopping bags for groceries and opt for eco-friendly products.
- Buy local – buy locally produced products; imported goods have a larger carbon footprint.
- Less packaging – buy items that use less packaging and use reusable containers for storing food as opposed to foil and plastic wrap that will end up in the dustbin.
- Get active –cycle or walk to your nearest grocery store instead of driving.
- Teleconferences – we live in a digital world; when possible, conduct your meetings telephonically instead of traveling to meetings.
- Recycling – separate your waste at home and the office by putting recyclable materials in the green recycling bin or delivering it to your nearest recycler. To find your nearest recycler, visit www.mywaste.co.za.
- Composting – turn leftover food into compost by setting up your own composting system at home. Find out how by visiting www.iwmsa.co.za.
- Reuse items – convert used tires, wooden pallets, toilet rolls, plastic bottles etc. into art work, handy containers or even furniture.
“By living consciously, we can all be eco-warriors. Be the change you want to see in the world and do your bit to look after the environment for the benefit of future generations,” concludes Oelofse.
For more information on recycling, visit www.mywaste.co.za.
For more information on the IWMSA, visit www.iwmsa.co.za.