Pupils from Gardens Commercial High School got their hands dirty and spent two hours cleaning the area in and around the Company’s Garden last Monday, September 16.

The clean-up was organised by the Cape Town Cape Town Central City Improvement (CCID) the City of Cape Town’s Solid Waste department in collaboration with the school, which is situated just off the garden.

Bingo, the City of Cape Town’s anti-litter mascot, accompanied the pupils in the spring clean-up. Before they set off, the pupils were informed about the perils of plastic pollution and the dire consequences to the plight of sea, air and land animals that ingest plastic and micro-plastic.

The pupils received an educational talk from the City and CCID about the harms of plastic pollution, dumping and littering.

Gardens Commercial High School principal, Dylan Tommy, said the school was approached by the CCID to form part of the event, and about 40 pupils from grades 8 to 11 joined in to pick up litter along Queen Victoria Road and in the garden.

He said the school was trying to promote recycling and also wanted to develop a sense of caring in the pupils.

The school has its own recycling programme, were pupils were encouraged to separate waste into paper, plastic and tin, which is then taken for recycling.

Kally Benito, manager of CCID urban management, said the aim of the clean-up was to educate pupils, raise awareness of the consequences of littering and clean up the Company’s Garden and surrounding streets at the same time. “The focus was educational, aimed at instilling a sense of environmental stewardship and social responsibility in the learners.”

She said the pupils were given bibs and gloves to wear, and with Bingo around to delight the pupils, they collected 33kg of waste.

“They were enthusiastic, worked well as a team, and showed a strong sense of civic duty and pride. Through their participation, they gained a deeper understanding of the importance of keeping the city, and the Company’s Garden clean, and the collective effort it takes to maintain public spaces.”

The City said the City’s public awareness and education unit conducts awareness and education programmes at schools with the presence of the anti-litter mascot, aiming to instil the ideals of ownership, pride, and a clean and safe environment.

The City said they also share information on various waste services provided by the City, educate on recycling initiatives at schools using the Schools Recycling Guide, sustainable waste avoidance practices, organic waste diversion through composting and messaging to change behaviour including waste tours to the City’s material recovery facility and landfill site.

The City said including Bingo, the mascot, was an interactive way to communicate with the public, especially children, about litter on streets or the beaches. “Bin it in the Bingo Bin is our main message to promote the correct use of the green bins and litter prevention contributing to keeping Cape Town clean and further combating illegal dumping.”

To book Bingo for an event, visit www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Activities-and-programmes/Cleaning-and-recycling/waste-education-talks

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