Southern Africa’s metal can and packaging recovery company, Collect-a-Can has been minimising the negative impact of used metal cans on the environment and creating awareness about the importance of recycling and litter reduction for the past 20 years.

Since Collect-a-Can’s inception in 1993, Southern Africa’s used can recovery rate improved from a mere 18% to 72%, putting South Africa on track to reach the United Nations’ target of 75% by 2015.

This feat positions Collect-a-Can as a world leader in metal can and packaging recovery, comparing positively to first world rates.

“Our aim for the next 20 years is to reach 100% recovery, which will not be possible without the continuous help of our communities and the support of the media”, said Zimasa Velaphi, Public Relations and Marketing Manager of Collect-a-Can today at the launch of the Collect-a-Can’s 20 Year Celebration Launch.

Collect-a-Can focuses on a number of key national priorities and is a prominent figure in uplifting our community through art, education and entrepreneurship initiatives.

Collect-a-Can has an extensive environmental program and exciting schools competitions that run annually to create enthusiasm amongst the youth, while at the same time creating awareness about the importance of not littering and of recycling.

This campaign reaches up to 250 000 children in schools throughout Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal, Western Cape and the North West Province annually.

Entrepreneurial development is just as important to Collect-a-Can, with between 100 000 and 160 000 informal collectors earning a living or supplementing their income by collecting cans.

Communities are also engaged through CAN collection drives and community clean-up initiatives that are routinely hosted by Collect-a-Can throughout South Africa.

“We have exciting initiatives planned for 2013, such as the 20 Drop Corporate CAN drive, encouraging corporate participation, Collect-a-Can’s take on the indigenous children’s ‘3-tin-game’ and 20km community walks to be hosted across South Africa,” says Velaphi.

Collect-a-Can is encouraging all South African to join Collect-a-Can in celebrating their 20th anniversary by getting involved with their recycling initiatives and community drives for the next 20 years to come.

To find out more about how your business can get involved visit Collect-a-Can’s website www.collectacan.co.za or contact the Collect-a-Can head office on 011 466 2939. Collect-a-Can is also on Facebook, Twitter (@collectacan #collectacan20).