The Breadtags for Wheelchairs Project has changed the life of a 5-year old from Kraaifontein trough the donation of a much-needed wheelchair.

Buhlebenkosi Mene was born with Spina Bifida – a birth defect that occurs when the vertebrae don’t form properly around part of the baby’s spinal cord.

“She won’t ever be able to walk and I have to carry Buhle everywhere we need to go.  She is growing and getting too heavy for me, but we don’t have the money to buy a wheelchair for her,” explained her mother, Zikhona Mene.

Working with an established network

Each year, close to 300 wheelchairs are handed over to recipients thanks to the collection of the breadtags which are made of high impact polystyrene (HIPS).

These plastic closures have a high recycling value and the Polystyrene Association has established a network of buyers around the country who have agreed to pay R8.00 for each kilogram of bread tags.

Once enough tags have been collected to cover the cost of the wheelchair selected, this money is then paid over to the pharmacy or wheelchair supplier of their choice.

“DB Janse van Rensburg is a Grade 11 pupil at the Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch and one of our most enthusiastic collectors,” explains Adri Spangenberg, Director of the Polystyrene Association and administrator of the Breadtags for Wheelchairs Project.

“He heard about the Buhle’s plight and encouraged his fellow pupils, the local community and the Stormers rugby team to become involved through his friendship with Stormers flyhalf and ex-Paul Roos pupil, Damian Willemse,” she said.

More than 5 tons of plastic diverted from landfill

“Our sincere thanks goes to DB, the Stormers Rugby team and every volunteer who collects their breadtags.  It is thanks efforts such as these and the support of large corporates such as SASKO and Zibo Containers that we have seen the project grow in leaps in bounds over the past 10 years.

“Today, we are proud to say that the Breadtags for Wheelchairs Project has not only diverted more than 5 tons of plastics from landfill in one year, but has grown into an international volunteer effort that has changed the lives of thousands of people.