By Ndumiso Khuzwayo
The Durban University of Technology (DUT) has unveiled reverse vending machines to offer students a convenient recycling experience on campus.
The machines promote sustainability and encourage students to go green. These innovative machines accept aluminium cans, plastic bottles and Tetra Pak packaging to allow students to recycle while they earn rewards through the Imagined Earth app.
DUT Real Estate Management senior director Thabani Mhlongo explained the inspiration behind the initiative.
He said: “There was a vision around sustainability. For us, it was about how we bring the vision to life and make sure that it’s not a theatrical exercise but something more practical and fun as we do it. This is why we are here today to launch our contribution to reduce waste within the campuses, but at the same time we do it in a more beneficial way, not just to reduce waste, but also to collect and recycle as part of DUT’s strategy.”
The eThekwini Municipality’s Climate Adaptation senior manager, Dr Sean O’Donoghue, outlined the impact of the innovation on climate change.
“For every can or bottle that you put into this machine, that’s one less piece of rubbish that needs to be transported to our landfill site, and the new site is not in Durban, it’s 40km away. The less stuff we send there, the less fuel is used and fewer emissions. If we get enough of these machines with the informal collection that’s happening around the city, collectively we can make a difference. It’s us doing our little bit in solving the bigger problem, which is emissions.”
He added that the machines have the potential to be used to great effect by the city.
“What if we had these machines placed around the city, in shopping malls? We’ve got
many informal collectors collecting recyclable materials and they may collect it, but they still need to transport it to recycling sites, but what if they could deposit it into machines like these and get the reward immediately. There’s potential here to upscale and build partnerships with collectors.”
DUT Disaster and Risk Management student, Bandile Mavimbela, said appreciates the machine’s user-friendly nature.
“I think this is a great initiative. As students, we often buy beverages like Coke outside
campus and bring them in. Now, we can put our numbers in the machine and recycle those cans and earn rewards. It’s very accessible and user-friendly.”
