The Polystyrene Packaging Council (PSPC) is driving a dynamic marketing and awareness campaign of its various charity projects to schools across Gauteng.

According to PSPC director Adri Spangenberg, twenty new schools have committed themselves to collecting breadtags and other products made from high impact polystyrene (HIPS) for Wheelchairs Project and the Tutu Desk Projects.

“Recycling has become part of the school curricula and the teachers welcome any opportunity that allows kids to practically become part of a recycling project.  An added motivation for them is the knowledge that they are doing something that has an immediate and very direct impact on the life of somebody who is less fortunate, and in need,” says Adri.

“We began our campaign to schools after we became aware of the fact that many schools and the teachers or parents driving the recycling initiatives, are feeling isolated in their efforts.  In fact, more than once we were told that they were on the verge of cancelling their school recycling because they weren’t aware that there are organisations such as the PSPC who could partner with them.”

As part of the schools project, the PSPC has provided branded wheelie bins to the schools free of charge, explaining the charity project and the recycling process with fun and colourful graphics.  The PSPC also helped to put them into contact with the local waste collectors in their area, such as WastePlan or Tolblik, making sure these schools are given the necessary support and infrastructure.

Adrie explains, “These collectors will be in regular contact with the schools and the collections of the recycled polystyrene will be made even easier once the PolyNet software has been installed at all the schools”.

“We are very excited about partnering with the PSPC and about the chance to touch and change people’s lives through their projects,” says Cynthia Snedden, Chairperson of the Recycling Village at the Saint Paulus School in Tswane.

“We have already identified two people in our community who are in need of wheelchairs, and will be collecting breadtags in order to purchase them the wheelchairs which they desperately need.  At the same time, we’re excited to know that the yoghurt tubs and other polystyrene we collect will go directly towards providing a school pupil with a desk to work on and gain a better education, while the polystyrene trays and containers are used to build houses for people who would otherwise not have a roof over their heads.”