Four local municipalities in the North West province are to benefit from a R2 million youth in waste management project which commenced at the beginning of this month – youth month.

The Tswaing, Mamusa, Maquassi hills and Moretele local municipalities will benefit from the project which will run over 10 months. The project is funded through the Department of Public Works’ Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) Grant and will employ at least 100 young people from these municipalities. They will receive a monthly stipend of R1 640, and at the end of the project will receive certificates of competence in basic waste management. A prize will be awarded to the cleanest community where the beneficiaries were deployed.

The project is set to help municipalities raise awareness about waste management, encourage youth to take part in waste management ventures, and forge stakeholders partnership to provide resources for the implementation of the project, whilst creating temporary employment.

The project will focus waste recycling or removal in areas such as schools, sidewalks, parks and the central business district, amongst others. The daily running of the project will be monitored by designated waste officers at municipality level and they will be supported by the Department of Public Works.

“Once this programme is rolled out successfully in these four municipalities, we will engage with the Department of Public Works to avail more funds [and] it will be extended to other municipalities,” said spokesperson Dineo Lolokwane.