The first baboon-proof public wheelie bin was installed earlier today along the beach path close to Aasbankies in Silver Sands, Bettys Bay.
This project is the initiative of Biosphere Living, in partnership with the Overstrand Municipality, Betty’s Bay Baboon Action Group (BB BAG), the Hangklip-Kleinmond Community and the Overstrand Herald.
The Wheelie bins – purchased by the Overstrand Municipality’s Hangklip-Kleinmond Administration, are retrofitted with an innovative baboon-proof locking mechanism designed and fitted by Bettys Bay local handy-man, Marco Marcovecchio. The locking mechanism makes it impossible for baboons to access waste whilst ensuring it is simple for the public to use.
More baboon-proof wheelie bins will be installed throughout the community. The aim of the project is to ultimately replace all the current, unprotected blue swing bins in public areas across Hangklip-Kleinmond with the baboon-proof bins.
The Overstrand Municipality Baboon Management Programme would like to thank the Hangklip-Kleinmond residents for their kind donations and funding for the baboon-proofing of public bins.
In a media statement, the Overstrand Herald’s editor, Gerard Grobler, said: “We would like to install as many as possible of these bins before the December holidays. We can only make this work with your help and financial support.”
“The total cost (installed) of one of the new bins is R900. The Overstrand Herald has created a special account for the Biosphere Living campaign. It is a sub account of the Herald and will be audited by the Buckle & Kie, our auditors.
“Every contribution will be acknowledged in the Herald every week until Christmas. You can also make an anonymous donation to the project should you wish to do so. If you can’t afford the R900 you could always club together with friends. It would also make a brilliant Christmas gift – for the small cost of a sticker we could put the donors’ name on the bin.
“The account details are: Biosphere Living, FNB acc: 62920874098. Please give us your full name as reference”.
CAPTION: Pictured here are councillor for ward 10, Fanie Krige, The Overstrand Herald’s editor, Gerard Grobler and Reneé Bish from the Betty’s Bay Baboon Action Group (BBBAG) with the very first of the new baboon-proof bins installed Edgar Gillions and his municipal team.
