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“You can’t change the world; you can’t fix the whole environment. But you can recycle.” Patti Smith, musician.
Tsogo Sun and Montecasino, in partnership with Miss Earth South Africa, hosted a Waste Dialogue at the Montecasino Recycling Depot on Thursday, 13 September during Clean-up and Recycle SA Week, to discuss the serious issues presented by unmanaged waste, the vital importance of recycling and the critical roles citizens can play in reducing our impact on the environment. This year’s annual Clean-up & Recycle SA Week will culminate in the first ever global World Clean-up Day on Saturday, 15 September 2018.
In support of Montecasino’s efforts to reduce the quantity of waste generated, tenants of the entertainment destination signed a pledge recommitting to the principles of the #WasteStopsWithME campaign.
Mike Page, GM of Montecasino, explains, “Our commitment to responsible waste management has been integral to the property’s strategic plans since we first opened in 2000, with initiatives constantly evolving and improving over the years, in line with Tsogo Sun’s property-specific environmental management systems focused mainly on
energy, water, waste management, and responsible sourcing.”
Montecasino has a progressive tenant agreement that covers the environmental management system in detail and requires co-operation in areas such as waste management and minimisation, energy and water
management, and awareness and training of staff and customers.
The #WasteStopsWithME Dialogue on 13 September was moderated by Generation Earth’s founder, Ella Bella Constantinides Leite, and included panel discussions about waste statistics in South Africa, how the waste
industry functions, and business challenges and opportunities.
It included participation by Tsogo Sun and Miss Earth South Africa, packaging companies, waste management organisations, the Department of Environmental Affairs, and the UN Environmental Programme.
The event was held at the Montecasino Waste Depot to highlight
the property’s steadily growing recycling efforts, which are currently at about 40% of waste, with aims to up the
levels to 45% by year-end.
Catherine Constantinides, International Climate Activist, also at the dialogue, says, “The waste discussion has been elevated globally over the past year because of engaged and active citizens, civil society organisations and influencers who understand the urgency of the waste crisis we are facing across the world. Being responsible means that we Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, but added to that, we must Respect our environment and Rethink our behaviour.
This dialogue brought important stakeholders and thought leaders into this space to engage, discuss and unpack where we are and what these buzz terms mean, as business moves forward in a more responsible, ethical and conscious manner. Collaborative discussions with facts and figures enable stakeholders to effectively work together to change behaviour, and understand the realities of waste in our country, and the consumer landscape.”
The dialogue brought together Plastics SA, the Paper Recycling Association of SA, SAPPI, UN DevelopmentProgramme, the Department of Environmental Affairs, and the City of Joburg.