MEDIA RELEASE 1 November 2006 Pikitup Launches the 100 Spots Campaign in Zandspruit Residents of Zandspruit, Randburg will take control of the illegal dumping problem plaguing the informal settlement with the assistance of Pikitup Johannesburg. The city's waste management utility is launching its award-winning 100 Spots Campaign in the settlement on the 1st of November. The month long campaign will be a coordinated effort between the City of Johannesburg, Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), Johannesburg Water, Environmental Health, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), the Housing Department, SAPS in Honeydew and Pikitup. The ultimate goal of the campaign is to permanently eradicate dumping. "Illegal dumping has recently become an increasing problem for Pikitup throughout the city. The growth in this unscrupulous practice is unfortunately not limited to a specific area or suburb. It affects all residents of the city irrespective of their socio-economic background," says Edson Mphuphuli, Pikitup's Randburg Depot Manager. Prior to the launch, Pikitup embarked on an educational campaign, where the company's environmental trainers spend two and half weeks training the residents of Zandspruit about the correct waste disposal methods, environmental health issues and the importance of general environmental well being. To reinforce the educational message, the educators handed out pamphlets to the residents as a source of reference. Pikitup developed and initiated its 100 Spots Campaign four years ago. The pilot phase, which was implemented in Soweto, brought together various city utilities and agencies, as well as the community to produce a tangible and sustainable outcome in the city. For its efforts, Pikitup was awarded the Innovation Award for 2004 from the Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management, in recognition of developing innovative approaches in dealing with waste management issues. "The environmental education component of the project is a crucial element of the 100 Spots Campaign as its showcases the importance of community involvement in the successful eradication of illegal dumping in the area. Without the active involvement of the community, the practice will persist. Taking pride in your immediate environment is the first step in ensuring that nobody else damages it," says Mphuphuli. Pikitup has identified 26 spots in area as hot spots that will require immediate attention. Ends Media enquiries can be directed to: Marius de Villiers Pikitup Johannesburg (Pty) Ltd Tel: (011) 712 5361 Cell: 082 855 9246 E-mail: mariusdevilliers@pikitup.co.za Or Slawek Justyniarski Meropa Communications Tel: (011) 772 1005 Cell: 082 432 9735 E-mail: slawekj@meropa.co.za