Good Green Deeds Campaign: Love South Africa – Tips to stop littering and dumping in your neighbourhood
The Good Green Deeds campaign mobilizes all South Africans to clean up the country. Spearheaded by DFFE, it promotes waste management, recycling, and community involvement for a greener future.
The Good Green Deeds campaign is a clarion call by South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa. During its launch the President said:
“This national campaign aims to mobilise citizens, business, industry, labour and civil society at large, towards a common goal – cleaning up South Africa. By performing just one Good Green Deed a day, you can make all the difference.”
The Good Green Deeds campaign is spearheaded by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE).
It seeks to encourage responsible environmental behaviour among all South Africans and includes proper waste management, recycling, and reducing littering. One important focus is managing litter at events that draw large crowds, such as interfaith pilgrimages, concerts and festivals as well as sporting and social events like the 702 Walk the Talk.
The Good Green Deeds campaign emphasises the economic value of waste, and highlights that recycling is increasingly competitive when compared to extracting primary materials.
This perspective aligns with the National Waste Management Strategy (NWMS), which prioritises waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and recovery.
The campaign’s goal is to shift public awareness, consciousness and behaviour towards better waste management practices. This is done through helping educate the public in recognising waste's economic value and its potential to create green jobs and support socio-economic development.
The country’s adherence to the principles of a circular economy and cradle-to-cradle design is crucial in tackling the pressing issues of climate change and environmental degradation.
A crucial aspect of the Good Green Deeds campaign is its emphasis on community involvement and embodies the spirit of togetherness and active engagement.
The DFFE has rolled out several programmes aimed at educating and empowering communities to take charge of their local environments.
Communities can participate by organising local clean-up drives, setting up recycling programmes, and educating fellow residents on the importance of waste management. Schools and local organisations can host workshops to teach sustainable practices, and individuals can commit to reducing their waste by practicing recycling at home.
This will help communities play an important role in achieving the campaign's goals and cultivate a culture of environmental stewardship.
The Good Green Deeds campaign is a testament to South Africa’s proactive approach to environmental governance. By encouraging a fundamental shift in behaviour and attitudes towards conservation, the campaign aims to ensure a healthier environment for all.
Litter has an adverse environmental and social impact on our communities. Together, we can align our actions to make a positive change in our communities. This year, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has partnered with Primedia’s 702 Walk the Talk initiative to encourage South Africans to keep our communities litter-free. Together we can beat the war on waste if we Act Now!