For years, the picturesque banks of the Berg River and the sweeping landscapes of Paarl and Wellington have been fighting a quiet, suffocating enemy. Beyond the visual blight of litter, “white pollution” from polystyrene and thin plastic films has been choking the region’s vital stormwater drains and leaching into the water table that sustains the Winelands.
Recognising that the valley’s natural heritage and agricultural future are at a tipping point, the Drakenstein Municipality has moved from concern to historic action.
This February, the municipality is set to approve the final version of its Integrated Waste Management Bylaw. The move will make Drakenstein the first local government in South Africa to formally outlaw single-use plastics, positioning the region as the country’s pioneer in the “Circular Economy.”
A Rescue Mission for the Berg River
The primary motivation for this bold legislative step is ecological survival. As the lifeblood of the local fruit and wine industries, the purity of the Berg River is non-negotiable. Traditional waste management has struggled to keep pace with the sheer volume of “buy-and-throw-away” materials that end up in the river system.
By removing these materials from the supply chain at the source, the municipality is protecting the very soil and water that define the Western Cape’s global brand. A cleaner ecosystem directly translates to a healthier community and a more pristine destination for the thousands of international tourists who visit the valley each year.
The New Rules of the Valley
The bylaw specifically targets the “low-hanging fruit” of plastic pollution—items that are notoriously difficult to recycle and often have a lifespan of only minutes in a consumer’s hand. The ban includes:
Plastic Shopping Bags: Any bags with a thickness of less than 30 microns.
Dining Disposables: Plastic straws, stirrers, and stir sticks.
Polystyrene: All expanded polystyrene (EPS) food containers and cups.
Implementation will follow a collaborative, phased approach. Rather than immediate heavy fines, the municipality is deploying dedicated Bylaw Enforcement Officers to work alongside local businesses, helping them transition to multi-use bags or biodegradable alternatives made from glass, paper, or stainless steel.
Empowerment Through Waste
Perhaps the most inspiring benefit of the bylaw is its social dimension. By mandating the separation of recyclables, the municipality is creating a predictable supply of materials for local “wastepreneurs”—informal collectors who sort and sell recyclables to sustain their livelihoods. Paired with a recent R8-million investment in organic waste diversion, Drakenstein is proving that environmental protection can coexist with economic dignity.
As the council prepares to sign the bylaw into law this February, Paarl and Wellington are doing more than just cleaning up their streets—they are drafting the blueprint for a sustainable South Africa.
