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DRINK PINK
PHOTO: RPMASA is providing Durban street traders with safe bulk-size plastic containers to prevent the poisonings that result from the use of contaminated containers.
Designed to protect environment and health and safety of public from toxic chemicals
A NEW initiative to protect people who use old drums to carry or store water and other liquids has been launched in Durban by the Responsible Packaging Management Association of Southern Africa (RPMASA).
Through the new Safe Happy Drums project, street traders throughout Durban will be able to buy brand new 25-litre drums for transporting and storing consumable liquids at half the normal price. This initiative will prevent numerous people from using contaminated drums and thereby creating a health risk.
Currently, used drums are either bought or stolen and then rinsed before being sold to unsuspecting customers. However, washing does not eliminate chemical residues, resulting in contamination and creating a major risk to people’s lives.
In South Africa, a number of poison-related deaths have been reported after people have consumed water from contaminated plastic drums. In addition, skin burns and chest problems are common, and an environmental pollution problem is ultimately created. The best solution was to provide informal traders with easily identifiable, affordable, new, clean, safe drums.
This situation prompted eThekwini Health to contact the RPMASA for a solution and so began the initial project in 2005. Due to the collaborative efforts of various sponsors, the RPMASA will be able to facilitate the supply of new, clean drums to traders at a drastically reduced price of only R15 per drum.
Despite this initial success, much more sponsorship is needed to make this sustainable: “The project is ideal for social responsibility programmes and we need innovative ideas to raise money from events like fun runs or beach fun days, which would be beneficial for everyone,” said association president, Liz Anderson.
- RPMASA is a non-profit organisation whose purpose is to provide a focal point for all organisations involved in the life cycle of industrial drums and containers.
www.rpmasa.org.za
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