Schools in the cities of Johannesburg, Midrand, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban and Richards Bay have again been invited to participate in the Ronnie Recycler School’s competition for 2017. Schools in each city will be eligible to win prizes to the value of R20 000*.

This year’s competition, which officially launched on the 1st February and runs until the end of September is open to nursery schools, primary schools and high schools in each city.

Prizes for the top schools are: R10 000* as the 1st Prize; R5 000* for the 2nd Prize; and R3 000* for the third position. Additional prizes include R1 000 for the ‘Green Ambassador’ and R1 000 for the ‘Green Student’.

All paper based packaging welcome

Donna Noble, Mpact Recycling communications manager, says: “To win, all you have to do is encourage your family, friends and fellow students to recycle their paper by filling their bags or the school’s Ronnie Bank every week.

“Once the bank is full, your school will then contact the nearest Mpact Recycling branch to book a collection. It’s a straightforward race: the more often your schools Ronnie bank or bags are full, the more often the school can book a collection, and we can weigh it”

All types of paper based packaging is recyclable in the schools competition – paper, newspaper, magazines, cereal and egg boxes, old school books, junk mail, wrapping paper, cardboard boxes, shredded paper, toilet roll holders, envelopes, telephone directories and most recently, milk and juice cartons.

Involving as many stakeholders as possible

Noble adds that it is not too late for schools that do not yet have a recycling programme in place to start participating. “You just need to be signed up on the Mpact recycling schools programme.”

Schools are particularly effective venues for paper recycling programmes because through children’s families they have large networks of homes and even their parent’s workplaces that can help contribute.

“The range of initiatives that can be used to bring in paper is limited only by the creativity of learners, teachers and parents,” says Noble.

Any programme should involve as many stakeholders of the school as possible, and that it should be run by a Green Ambassador who can be either a learner or a teacher. “The main focus should be educational. We want to teach people about taking care of their environment,” concludes Noble.