Anti-litter mascot takes Cape Town’s Spring Clean campaign to schools

Cape Town’s new anti-litter mascot, Bingo, is hitting the campaign trail to schools as part of the city’s Spring Clean Campaign 2023, which aims to clamp down on illegal dumping and littering in the metro.

Cape Town Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis, joined Bingo at Caradale Primary School in Mitchells Plain on Wednesday, who entertained and encouraged learners to always keep Cape Town clean.

Hill-Lewis said the city wants to rekindle the anti-litter campaign in schools to inspire a new generation to never litter.

“Many of us will recall being reached by anti-littering messages during our school days, with phrases like ‘Zap it in the Zibi bin’. Our simple message is to always ‘Bin it in the Bingo Bin’, which is why our mascot is modelled on the thousands of green litter bins the city has placed across the metro.

“Bingo will hit the trail to primary schools across the metro as part of our annual Spring Clean campaign for 2023, and we will also be supplying schools with campaign content to display in classrooms, hallways and libraries,” Hill-Lewis said.

He said close to 200 000 additional bags of litter were collected across Cape Town last year as part of joint spring clean-up campaign efforts by the city, residents, civil society, schools and businesses.

“This year, the city will again scale-up cleaning operations in litter hotspots across the metro. Residents can get involved by organising clean-ups in their areas,” Hill-Lewis said.

Member of the Mayoral Committee for Urban Waste Management, Grant Twigg, said the city is expanding cleaning efforts along major routes and littering hotspots in preparation for the busy tourism season ahead.

“Our outreach teams will also be engaging residents in malls, schools, intersections and public places. Our simple message is to never litter, and always keep Cape Town clean.

“As part of the #SpringCleanCT campaign, a 24-hour toll-free number 0800 110077 is also available for residents to report illegal dumping tip-offs in exchange for a reward where this leads to arrests,” Twigg said.

Urban waste management services investments

Twigg said the city is also making major investments in Urban Waste Management services over the next three years, including:
•    R755 million to upgrade Urban Waste Management facilities, including landfills, drop-offs, waste to energy projects, recycling and depots;
•    R659 million for new refuse removal vehicles to ensure a reliable service;
•    R4.6 billion on expanded area cleaning, including street cleaning, beach cleaning, illegal dumping, events and more; and
•    R758 million towards the goal of improved informal settlements waste management.

Residents are urged to report illegal dumping on the 24-hour toll-free illegal dumping tip-off line — 0800 110077, or email solidwaste.bylaw@capetown.gov.za and include photographs or details that can help law enforcement identify and penalise the culprits.

To notify the city about dumping that needs to be cleared, please call 0860 103 089.