In what was hailed as a first for the motor industry, a renowned vehicle brand has partnered with The Glass Recycling Company (TGRC) to facilitate the placement of glass banks at all its dealerships countrywide. The reuse and recycling of raw, process and operating materials during the manufacturing of vehicles is standard practice at Chrysler LLC on all its product lines.

It was therefore a natural extension for Chrysler SA’s Jeep brand to form an association with TGRC on the nationwide rollout of glass recycling banks. According to CEO of TGRC, Shabeer Jhetam, 40% of glass in SA is currently recycled and exceptional growth has been experienced from the 2004/2005 rate, prior to the establishment of TGRC, where just 18% of all glass containers produced annually, were being retrieved for recycling in the country. “We still have a long way to go,” he says. “These glass banks along with the support of Jeep’s customers will help us to reduce our collective carbon footprint and preserve our nation for future generations.”

Customers visiting the dealerships will be offered a glass recycling bag, a fridge magnet and informative leaflet – small items that will help motivate and inspire South Africans to protect the planet by recycling their glass waste.

Guy Franken, group head: marketing and corporate affairs at Chrysler SA and Fiat Group Automotive SA, anticipates that the glass recycling initiatives will be a success. “Jeep has a global Tread Lightly! programme that dovetails well with this local recycling endeavour, and we expect to see a vast amount of support for this campaign.” The placement of the recycling banks was placed in July.