The Annual Clean-Up and Recycle Week launches next week, and this is how we can all get involved in cleaning up our beautiful country.
South Africa (08 September 2021) – An annual highlight on the Mzansi eco-calendar is Clean-Up & Recycle SA Week. Scheduled to take place from the 13th to the 18th of September 2021, with National Recycling Day celebrated on the 17th, the week culminates with International Coastal Clean-Up Day and Let’s Do It World Clean-up Day on Saturday the 18th of September.
Apart from raising awareness and supporting clean-up initiatives by donating refuse bags, gloves and other equipment needed, this will also be the 25th year that Plastics SA will be coordinating South Africa’s participation in the International Coastal Clean-Up Day – the world’s biggest volunteer effort for ocean health.
Plastics SA is hoping that this year will see a repeat of the huge success of last year’s Clean-Up & Recycle SA Week. Even though COVID-19 restrictions prohibited the large groups at public clean-ups and gatherings that have become synonymous with this public awareness and volunteer effort, the spirit of camaraderie, positivity and willingness to make a difference in our environment definitely made this one of the most memorable years.
“Clean-Up & Recycle SA Week has become a highlight on our country’s environmental calendar. This annual public awareness week is supported by all the packaging streams in South Africa and encourages citizens, corporates and municipalities to help remove all visible litter from our country’s neighbourhoods and streets, rivers, streams, beaches and oceans,” explains Douw Steyn, Plastics SA’s Sustainability Director.
“Like last year, we are one again advocating that South Africans be eco-warriors in their own neighbourhoods by picking up any litter on our beaches or strewn in streets, rivers, streams or canals. Where community clean-ups are planned, we urge the organisers to adhere to safety protocols by limiting the numbers of volunteers participating, ensuring that participants wear their masks, checking that they maintain social distancing and that enough sanitizing stations are in place,” Steyn said.
“South Africa and the rest of the world continues to go through a very difficult period in our history as we are still trying to beat the ravaging effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns, riots and public disturbances. However, each year the Clean-Up & Recycle SA week manages to restore hope as South Africans of all ages and walks of life unite their efforts and volunteer their time and energy to help make South Africa a brighter, cleaner place for all!” Steyn concludes.
If you are interested in arranging an event to clean up your area, you can reach out to the team via their website here. Or, if you know of any events taking place in your area, share them in the comment section. We will gladly add them to this article for others to see.
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