Airports Company South Africa commits to educating its employees and the community about environmental management during Arbor Week, 1 – 7 September 2014

Johannesburg, 2014-9-9 — /Travel PR News/ — Airports Company South Africa is committed to educating its employees and the community about environmental management during Arbor Week, from 1 – 7 September 2014 by making a difference in areas within close proximity to its airports. Arbor Week is recognised as a national initiative aimed at providing and encouraging South Africans to plant indigenous trees as a practical and symbolic gesture of sustainable environmental management.

In Gauteng, Airports Company South Africa has partnered with Green Planet Revolution and the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) to grow and beautify living spaces in South African townships. Ekurhuleni has been identified as one of the areas that will benefit from tree planting due to its proximity to O.R. Tambo International Airport. Airports Company South Africa employee volunteers will participate in tree planting in four parks around Vosloorus in Ekurhuleni on Friday, 5 September.

This programme aims to increase the tree resource base across Gauteng that will also focus on skills development, training and providing employment opportunities to the unemployed youth and adults in these communities. There is a comprehensive planting plan for Ekurhuleni communities where Green Planet Revolution plants vegetables with the identified local groups. Community members who are currently unemployed are encouraged to grow fruits and vegetables at home to supplement their own diet and generate income through sale.

The Arbor Week activities at George Airport involves a partnership with a recycling company that is driving the initiative themed ‘Recycle a Paper and Save a Tree’. Airport employees will gather paper from organisations and at stop streets across the city for recycling. The recycling company will recycle all the paper and, in the process, ‘Save a Tree’.

At Cape Town International Airport, employee volunteers visited its long-term beneficiary, Charitable Heart’s Food Pods project, on 4 September in Philippi. The project enables disadvantaged individuals to grow and produce vegetables for selling in the local community. King Shaka International is planting 21 trees on the airport sports grounds and at a local school in commemoration of Airports Company South Africa’s 21st birthday this year. Additionally, five water tanks will be donated to disadvantaged communities in close proximity to King Shaka International.

“Arbor Week should help heighten South Africans’ awareness of the important role that trees play in the environment. Airports Company South Africa strives to work with strategic partners in the areas surrounding its airports, as well as some key national projects aimed at protecting the quality of our environment. We are also committed to involving our employees in environmental projects that form a critical part of our Socio-Economic Development strategic focus areas,” says Colin Naidoo, Airports Company South Africa Acting Group Spokesperson.

For more information, please contact:
Colin Naidoo
Airports Company South Africa Spokesperson
Cell: +27 (0) 82 820 2744
Email: colin.naidoo@airports.co.za