How South Africans Are Turning Plastic Bottle Tops into Smiles and Mobility

Photo Credit: Supplied by John Harvey (Good News Lab) on behalf of Pecto

By collecting and donating plastic bottle tops, South Africans are playing their part in an incredible mission to help fund life-changing corrective cleft surgeries for disadvantaged children and provide wheelchairs to those who desperately need mobility.

South Africa (15 July 2026) – Something as small as a plastic bottle top, the kind we mindlessly twist off our water bottles, sodas, and juices every day, is significantly changing lives across our beautiful nation.

Through the simple act of saving and donating these everyday plastic caps, ordinary South Africans are making the extraordinary possible. They are funding life-changing corrective cleft surgeries for children and providing wheelchairs to those who desperately need mobility but cannot afford it.

You might have heard of similar recycling drives in the past, but a unique new partnership is boosting this effort.

Producer responsibility organisation Petco, packaging manufacturer Tuffy, and recycler Myplas have partnered to keep plastic bottle tops out of the environment and landfills by getting the public to collect and donate them to two charitable organisations: Operation Smile South Africa and the Sweethearts Wheelchair Foundation.

In exchange for the bottle tops they collect, the beneficiary partners receive funds from Myplas, and the bottle tops are then reprocessed into plastic pellets that are used in the manufacturing of Tuffy’s 100% recycled refuse bags.

By turning bags of collected bottle caps into vital funds, this initiative is directly restoring smiles to children born with cleft conditions and bringing independence to thousands of people waiting for wheelchairs.

Petco’s recycling value chain analyst, Boipelo Madonsela, said this collaboration was an important example of closing the loop on plastics and making recycling more meaningful for South Africans.

“What’s particularly powerful about this area of work is that it creates a direct connection between everyday recycling behaviour and a tangible social impact. People can see that something as simple as keeping and collecting their bottle tops can help support a charitable cause while also ensuring valuable material is recycled rather than ending up in the environment or becoming landfill waste.”

Madonsela said members of the public who weren’t donating their bottle tops could still promote recycling by putting the top back on their empty, flattened PET bottles or liquid board cartons before disposing of them responsibly.

The collection is just one part of the recycling journey, and Petco is also working to create demand for recycled plastics – because demand for recycled content is what gives the material value and helps support the economics of collection and recycling.

Operation Smile’s executive director Sarah Scarth said donating bottle tops was a simple, free way for individuals, schools, businesses and community groups to help the organisation provide surgeries and comprehensive medical care.

“A single bottle top may seem insignificant, but when thousands of people come together to collect and recycle them, those small contributions add up to something truly meaningful. Every bottle top collected helps us bring more smiles, more confidence, and more opportunities to children born with cleft conditions,” said Scarth.

Sweethearts Foundation CEO Ashley Nel explained that a 2023 statistic from the Department of Health showed South Africa had a wheelchair waiting list of over 6,000 people.

“Across South Africa, thousands of people are still waiting for mobility support, and for many families, the reality of accessing a wheelchair is far more difficult than most people realise. That is why this campaign matters. It transforms an everyday action into something deeply human and impactful. You do not need to be wealthy to make a difference. You simply need to start,” Nel said.

“Every kilogram collected contributes to something much bigger than recycling. It helps us move someone closer to freedom, accessibility, education, employment, and a better quality of life.”

The collaboration and the participation of ordinary South Africans serves as a great example of everyone working together to create real impact and keep valuable materials in circulation for as long as possible at their highest value.

“The recycling system depends on people making conscious choices every day – choosing their favourite products in packaging that is recyclable, separating recyclable materials from waste in their homes, offices and schools and disposing of them responsibly,” added Madonsela.

Every bottle top saved is a step toward a child’s new smile, a person’s newfound mobility, and a cleaner, greener South Africa.

See the drop-off points below to play your part in this wonderful initiative.

Drop-off points for collected bottle tops:

Myplas: 6 Mill Street, Bellville South
Operation Smile South Africa: Waverley Business Park, 5 Wyecroft Road, Mowbray, Cape Town
Sweethearts Foundation: Visit the website for drop-off points nationwide –