Using art and song to help solve South African plastic waste crisis

A pioneering scheme using street art, theatre and song aims to reduce open dumping and burning of waste as well as increase plastic recycling in Mpumalanga, South Africa.

Uncontrolled plastic waste disposal is becoming an increasingly serious problem there; threatening the environment and human health.

The methods being used are aimed at teaching people that waste has value, and that dumping and burning waste impacts heavily on human health.

She said: “The area is characteristic of many underserved regions when it comes to plastic waste collection and recycling.

The use of street art and murals, performances and video blogs helps to raise awareness about the importance of community-driven waste management and aims to reduce the widespread littering of plastic.

87 per cent of people said they were not satisfied with the current waste management;

The international organisation works with communities around the world to build circular waste and recycling systems that benefit current and future generations