Plastics SA is all about bettering the environment, which is why they help anyone who would like to host a clean-up, with planning and plastic bags.
South Africa – Clean-up and Recycle SA Week started in 1996 in KwaZulu-Natal. It was launched by the plastic industry, but in the 23-years since then other significant sectors have joined forces to make South Africa a cleaner place.
Now recycle week is supported by every stream of packaging manufacturers (paper, glass, metal and tetra packaging) as well as the support of major plastic raw material suppliers, converters, brand owners and retailers, PRO’s (Product Responsibility Organisations), recycling bodies, conservationists and government.
Everyone is encouraged to get involved in either their own big clean-ups or the ones set up by various organisations. Plastics SA works to help communities, businesses, schools, environmental groups and government departments.
These organisations are encouraged to host their own clean-ups in the areas where they work or live. Plastics SA likes to help wherever possible and gladly donate branded disposal bags as well as offering advice to the groups on how to organise a clean-up, where and how to recycle.
Once an event has been planned, Plastics SA help to raise awareness about the events by listing them on the Clean-Up and Recycle SA website: www.cleanupandrecycle.co.za.
“During this week, we all unite our actions around the common goal of removing as much litter as we possibly can from our environment.
We also aim to teach South Africans how to dispose of their waste in a responsible way by highlighting the importance of recycling materials that can be used to create new products, generate employment and reduce our impact on the environment” – Douw Steyn, Sustainability Director: Plastics|SA
Clean-up and Recycle week runs from the 16th to the 21st of September. Recycling Day is on Friday the 20th of September and South Africa’s participation in the International Coastal Clean-Up and the Let’s Do It! World Clean-Up is Saturday the 21st of September, thus ending off the week nicely.
In 2018, over 17 million people took part in clean-ups held in 158 countries. According to Plastics SA, these clean-ups took place despite six tropical cyclones, ongoing wars, conflicts and unrest, this was the largest organised clean-up that has ever taken place in a time span of 36 hours.
‘Whilst it is great to see the growing public support and awareness of the dangers of plastic pollution, we realise that the challenge is far from over. To truly reach our objectives of sending zero waste to landfill, dramatically reducing our environmental footprint and creating a circular economy, we need everybody’s participation. The issue of waste in the environment is a global problem, and the solution will, therefore, require a consistent, global effort.’
If you would like more information about joining a clean-up or would like to host your own, be sure to check out their website here. The cut-off for clean-up registration is the end of August.
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