The D-day for recycling is almost upon Joburgers. From 1 July, going green will no longer be a lifestyle choice, but a requirement for the city’s residents.

Plans were announced at the beginning of June by Mayoral Committee Member Nico de Jager to make thoughtful waste disposal a compulsory part of Jozi living.

With just a few weeks to prepare, many locals are still none the wiser as to how this project is going to unfold. So we’ve decided to have a look at what we know so far and clear up a few of the big issues.

Johannesburg recycling: How will it work?

These items need to be recycled

These are the items you’ll have to keep separate from your household rubbish:

Plastics

Glass

Cell phones

Cans

Building rubble

Broken or disused vehicle parts

Garden waste

The caveats and nitty-gritty of what counts as a recyclable can be found here. Local government is imploring people to think about what items can still be used again. They are keen to establish the motto “if you can’t reuse it, you must refuse it”.

These items must not be recycled

So these are the things that you must continue putting in your “regular” bin:

Polystyrene

Light bulbs

Food

Rubber

Batteries

Nappies

Pizza boxes

There will be a weekly pick up

As per normal service, Pikitup will collect your recycled rubbish on a weekly basis with your main household waste.

Residents will be given specific bags for recycling

Don’t stress if this is the first you’re hearing about the recycling initiative. The city have moved to make things as easy as possible for recycling first-timers.

When your rubbish is taken away by the refuse collectors, they will leave clearly-marked and colour-coded bags to be used for recyclables alongside your emptied bin. It will identify what materials can be put in there (blue for glass and plastic, green for bio-degradable waste etc).

You really can’t get out of this one

City officials have stated that every single house, security complex, suburban estate and township will be made to recycle. The planned routes are as comprehensive as they come, and no stone will be left unturned by the refuse collection team.

There will, eventually, be fines for those who don’t comply

So look, it’s actually a lot more straight-forward than some might think. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll know exactly what items are meant for each bin bag. Plus, your pick up day is the same for both household and recyclable rubbish.

You’ve got the resources and the knowledge. But the City of Johannesburg didn’t come to play. Nico de Jager revealed to us earlier this month that users who are blatantly refusing to comply will face penalties in the months ahead: