The KwaDukuza Municipality (KDM) is elated to declare its accolade to residents and stakeholders after winning R1 000 000,00 at the Greenest Municipality Competition Awards hosted by KZN Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (KZN EDTEA) held last night, 02 March 2022 at the Durban ICC.
About Greenest Municipality Competition (GMC) – The Cleanest Town Competition (CTC) was initiated in 2001 with a primary focus on implementing the National Waste Management Strategy. The key elements were reducing, recycling, and reusing waste materials. Although the CTC was successful in achieving its primary objectives, developments within the greening movement required the modifications of the concept to embody other elements which are outside the waste management category. The incorporation of new elements is justifiable within a new name, hence the Greenest Municipality Competition (GMC). The GMC enhances CTC by incorporating new elements and providing a broader focus. The GMC links to other global and national initiatives, e.g., green goals, greening the nation, reducing greenhouse gases, amongst others. The GMC consists of five core elements, namely:
Waste Management;
Energy Efficiency and Conservation;
Water Management;
Landscaping, tree planting and beautification;
Public Participation and Community Empowerment; and
Leadership and Institutional Arrangements.
Participation in this annual competition is open to all municipalities.
Selection Criteria for the Greenest Municipality Competition (GMC) – The selection criteria included municipalities having to provide good waste management plans, policies and strategies, institutional arrangements and show strides made in lobbying political support within municipalities on environmental programmes, greening initiatives including landscaping and planting of trees and community involvement on environmental projects and programmes
The municipality entered the competition last year, in the urban municipalities category and was competing with other municipalities of similar size in the province where it was crowned first place and awarded R1 000 000,00 prize money.
The municipality will channel this prize money on waste management initiatives with the intention to change attitudes by raising awareness and educating communities on good waste management practices.
The municipality acknowledges that there is still a long way to go in terms of waste management, however, its efforts and strategic trajectory has been commended by the KZN EDTEA, the municipality is encouraged by this award, as it confirms that it is on the right path. The municipality further acknowledges that it is not yet where it wants to be but shall stay on the cause and press on towards achieving the goal of a KwaDukuza that is free of litter and illegal dumping.
KDM is not yet at the summit of the mountain it is climbing if anything it is at the foot of the mountain, there is still a lot to be done but the municipality shall overcome the negative behaviour patterns of citizens towards waste management.
