The local plastics industry will once again demonstrate its commitment to cleaning up the environment and removing plastics litter from our rivers, streams, oceans and neighbourhoods with it’s annual Clean-up and Recycle SA Week.
It is taking place until the 21st of September 2019. The week will culminate in National Recycling Day on 20 September 2019 and South Africa’s participation in the annual International Coastal Clean-Up Day on the 21st of September 2019.Throughout the week, various clean-ups are taking place in communities around South Africa. According to Douw Steyn, Sustainability Director of Plastics|SA, this is the 23rd year that they will be involved in this initiative. “ Clean-up and Recycle SA Week began as a project of the plastics industry and Ezemvelo/KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife, in 1996. Since then, it has grown to include the participation of all the packaging streams,” he says. This includes the paper, glass, metal and tetra packaging, as well as the support of major plastic raw material suppliers, converters, brand owners and retailers, Product Responsibility Organisations ( PRO), recycling bodies, conservationists and government. Uniting effort to remove as much litter from environment “ During this week, we all unite our actions around the common goal of removing as much litter as we possibly can from our environment. We also aim to teach South Africans how to dispose of their waste in a responsible way by highlighting the importance of recycling materials that can be used to create new products, generate employment and reduce our impact on the environment.” Communities, businesses, schools, environmental groups and government departments are encouraged to host their own clean-ups in the areas where they work, live or play. “ Last year, this clean-up event attracted 17 million volunteers from 158 countries, who participated in clean-ups that took place around the globe on the same day. Despite six tropical cyclones, ongoing wars, conflicts and unrest, this was the largest organised clean-up that has ever taken place in a timespan of 36 hours. South Africa was proud to be part of this global event and we look forward to once again doing our bit to create immediate, and hopefully, lasting change this year,” Steyn says.
Being concerned about plastics that end up in the environment and trying to do something about it, is nothing new to the plastics industry.
In fact, they have been working consistently to bring about change for more than 20 years by educating society and working with the designers, producers, consumers and recyclers of plastic goods and packaging. “We have also been lobbying provincial, national and local government about the need for improved waste management ,” Steyn added. “To truly reach our objectives of sending zero waste to landfill, dramatically reducing our environmental footprint and creating a circular economy, we need everybody’s participation. The issue of waste in the environment is a global problem, and the solution will therefore require a consistent, global effort,” Steyn concludes. Here are some of the clean-up you can be part of during this week:- National Recycling Day on Friday, 20 September 2019
- The International Coastal Clean-Up on Saturday, 21 September 2019
- Braamfontien Spruit Clean-Up
- Alexandra Street Clean-Up
Major beach clean-ups will take place between 09:00 and 12:00 at the following Cape Town beaches on Saturday, 21 September 2019:
- Monwabisi
- Muizenberg
- Kalk Bay Underwater (scuba)
- Houtbay
- Milnerton lagoon
- Strand
Major beach clean-ups will take place between 08:00 and 12:00 at the following KwaZulu-Natal beaches:
- Durban Harbour Clean-Up
- Blue Lagoon Clean-Up
- Umgeni River Mouth
- Royal Natal Yacht Club
- Suncost Beach Clean-Up
- Bike and Bean Clean-Up
- Beachwood Mangroves Clean-Up
