Page 24 - FEB2020

Blue Butterfly in Maun - Repurpose projects

Repurpose Projects
We are all familiar with the 3 R’s of good waste management

practices: reduse, reuse and recycle... but it is becoming more
We are all familiar with the 3 R’s of good waste management
common practice in everyday life to implement the new R ... to
practices: reduce, reuse and recycle … but it is becoming more
common practice in everyday life to implement the new R … to
repurpose a lot of products that we otherwise find difficult to
repurpose a lot of product that we otherwise find difficult to
recycle.
recycle.

Maun often has an excess of empty plastic water bottles generated in
the restaurant and safari industries. We have been collecting empty
Aquarite Soda Water bottles with the help of Masson Safaris, Tandurei
Restaurant and Aquarite for a repurpose project. These are often
bottles that are too scuffed or damaged to be reused as ‘second’ and
are scheduled to be sent off for recycling by Aquarite.

The bottles are cleaned, the bottle top is removed and the bottom cut
off so that we end up with a carrot shaped container similar to root
training products.

The added benefit here is that the clear plastic allows us to see root
development in cuttings as well seedlings, especially tree seedlings.
The shape of the ‘upside-down’ bottle prevents stagnant water
retention at the base of the container that may potentially damage
roots. The shape also allows us to easily remove the plant with soil for
re-potting once it is big enough.

We also made some frames from 8-gauge wire and offcut wire mesh
for these bottles to stand in so that they remain in the correct position
for irrigation and handling.

Initially we left the bottle tops on the upside-down bottles but made
drainage holes in them to prevent the soil from draining out with the
water. After the first few test runs we now use cotton wool plugs in
the bottles to aid drainage without losing soil.

One day we will find
One day we will find
other repurpose
another repurpose
projects for the lids
projects for the lids
and cut-off bottoms!
and cut-off bottoms!

by Petra Strydom