Waste: Its Mine, Its yours

1. Waste: Its Mine, Its yours Project update 2016

2. Outline General progress Tutorial and critique with students Waste training in Melkhoutfontein Video link up with Melkhoutfontein Scoping of site Communication and community engagement

3. i. General progress • Staff and students at the University of Brighton continue to work on their ideas for items and products that could be developed from the local resources identified from the waste composition analysis and community briefings. • Support has been offered through Community21 where students can upload questions for Anthea http://community21.org/partners/matters/

4. ii. Tutorials & critique with students • Anthea attended a tutorial with students and staff on January 14th to provide background detail on Melkhoutfontein. This was followed up with a critique on 15th February where she answered questions and gave feedback on concepts and prototypes from students. • Tutors – Tanya Dean and Nick Gant (both far right) engaging with students.

5. Examples included (left) watches made from waste materials and (right) beads from the acacia cyclops

6. Further examples (left) experimenting with plastics (right) prototype jewellery inspired by the cave paintings

7. Plastic sheet materials produced from waste plastics processed using a heat press

8. Insulation material produced from plastic films

9. iii. Waste training in Melkhoutfontein • 14th-16th and 30th March 2016 - The University of Brighton and Dreamcatcher Foundation delivered training to community members on waste management. • Aim: to develop the trainee’s knowledge of waste management and to better understand the opportunities for utilising the resources for job creation.

10. Summary of content: • What waste is. • How waste is being managed and the options available. • Impacts of waste on the environment, quality of recycling, health and tourism and the reasons to change. • Who is responsible for managing waste. • Factors that influence waste generation. • The composition of waste and the options available for managing these materials. • The benefits of recycling. • How to increase awareness of waste issues. • How you can reduce waste generation and improve how waste is being managed. • How to compost using a Green Johanna. • Opportunities for Melkhoutfontein.

11. Training included presenting information from the waste composition study conducted in their community on the levels of recyclable and composting materials currently going to landfill.

12. Participants were given examples of recycled materials that had been produced from the local waste stream to help them understand the process of recycling and prepare them for the video link up with the University of Brighton (see below).

13. The training also included guidance on composting. This included information on what composting its, the process and what the compost can be used for.

14. iv. Video link with Melkhoutfontein • March 17th - a video link was set up between community • members in Melkhoutfontein and students at the University of • Brighton where each student gave a 2 minute presentation • showcasing their work.

16. A diverse range of designs were put forward including: - Products manufactured from the acacia cyclops including kitchen utensils, tools, jewellery and furniture - Watches made from recycled materials - Lamp shades made from waste paper - Lettering and numbering produced from plastics - Items for the botanical garden including seeds in packets made from waste paper that could be planted and ornamental flowers from the waste plastics - Cool bags and rain coats made from plastic films

17. The link up went very well and the community members and • Dreamcatcher staff were extremely impressed with the prototypes put forward by the students. • Following positive feedback students and staff are continuing • to develop ideas including preparing video or paper based instructions on how the products can be made.

18. v. Scoping of site • We are currently in the process of signing a 10 year lease with Hessequa Municipality for the site of the craft and design centre. We have negotiated that following refurbishment of the building the next six years will be rent free. • As per our original funding we will have blueprints for the design of the site by September 2016. This includes plans for securing the building, purposing it to the crafting, manufacturing and functional needs and a plan for the equipment required. This will include provision training and educational purposes.

19. vi. Communication and community engagement • We are continuing to engage with the community in regards the project – this includes the youth and physically challenged. The wider ‘Wasteland – Graced land’ project was launched on March 22nd in Melkhoutfontein which included information on the ‘Waste Its Mine Its Your‘ project.

20. Ambassador for the Kingdom of the Netherlands Hon. Marisa Gerards launching the ‘Wasteland – Graced land’ project. Many community members, dignitaries and volunteers attended including representation from the Netherlands, USA, Belgium and UK.