The 2017 African Marine Waste Conference took place from the 9th to the 13th of July in Port Elizabeth, and was attended by approximately 200 delegates from 9 African states and a further 10 countries from other continents. The inaugural African Marine Waste Conference was managed by the Sustainable Seas Trust (SST) under the leadership of Dr Tony Ribbink, CEO of SST, and … [Read more...]
Annual clean-up competition urges schools to recycle
Schools around the country stand a chance to once again win big prizes in Plastics|SA’s annual schools competition, entitled “Let’s do it … Let’s Clean-Up South Africa!” According to Douw Steyn, Director: Sustainability at Plastics|SA, the aim of this national competition is to educate and encourage schools, communities, businesses and organisations to play their part in … [Read more...]
Collaboration to create jobs and support SA waste collectors
Earlier this month, a helping hand was extended to local waste collectors in Johannesburg and Somerset West. On Tuesday, 18 July, Boxmore Packaging and PETCO, the organisation responsible for fulfilling the South African PET plastic industry’s role of Extended Producer Responsibility, partnered to sponsor and handover waste recycling trolleys to five local PET (Polyethylene … [Read more...]
iThemba Tower combines art, recycling and community
Officially opened in July 2016, the iThemba Tower is a community art project made with over 7 000 recycled plastic drinks bottles decorating a decommissioned 20m high cellular tower. The tower, in the garden of the Spaza Art Gallery in Troyeville, Johannesburg, has become a point of pride for people living and working in the area. https://vimeo.com/226310331 The project … [Read more...]
How green is your restaurant?
Do you know what the footprint is of the restaurant you support? Launched last year as a first for South Africa, the Eat Out Woolworths Sustainability Award acknowledges a restaurant that brings its customers seasonal, local and responsibly produced food. “We launched the award to acknowledge the inspiring work that is already being done in the hospitality sector, and to … [Read more...]
Awarding SA’s PET recycling champions
The extraordinary contributions to PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) recycling in South Africa during the course of 2016 by 10 individuals and companies were celebrated at an awards ceremony as part of the PETCO Annual General Meeting, held today at the Radisson Blu Sandton Hotel in Johannesburg. The PETCO awards are designed to recognise individuals, organisations and … [Read more...]
Entries now open for 2017 Recycled Plastic Product Awards
South African Plastics Recycling Organisation (SAPRO) is inviting entries to this year’s Recycled Plastic Product of the Year Awards. SAPRO is proud to announce the sixth prestigious competition, with the aim of acknowledging the wide variety of products that are locally manufactured using recycled materials. The Recycled Plastic Product of the Year Awards were held for the … [Read more...]
How to save water and recycle grey water in your home
With level four water restrictions now in place, dam levels currently at 19.6% (with only 10% available as usable water), and the Western Cape now declared a disaster zone by Premier Helen Zille, Capetonians need to do all they can to conserve the province’s precious resource. Even though the Western Cape is gearing up for heavy rainfall, we can still do our best to conserve … [Read more...]
Are South Africa’s shopping bags really being recycled?
Despite many claims to the contrary, the shopping bags of most SA retailers are not actually being recycled because of one additive. In spite of wording on their plastic shopping bags such as "Recycle me - set a trend" (Woolworths), "Reduce, reuse, recycle" (Pick 'n Pay & Shoprite) and "We love our country, please recycle" (Spar), these bags are not being recycled … [Read more...]
Success at the inaugural Fish Hoek community recycling expo
Recently, the community of Fish Hoek held a Recycling Expo, which – with over 300 attendees – proved quite successful. Here’s a little more on what went down... The Fish Hoek town hall was a bustling hub, with exhibits from 16 recyclers and composters, including the Green Guerrillas, art from waste crafters, False Bay Primary who make eco-bricks for a building project, … [Read more...]
Toxic chemicals in children’s toys exceed proposed hazardous waste limit
A new global survey finds that recycling plastics containing toxic flame retardant chemicals found in electronic waste results in contamination of the world’s best-selling toy along with other children’s products. Ironically, the chemical contaminants can damage the nervous system and reduce intellectual capacity but are found in Rubik’s Cubes – a puzzle toy designed to … [Read more...]
Environmental Affairs to probe recycled bag claims
The Department of Environmental Affairs says it will probe reports that some plastic supermarket carrier bags, which claim to be recycled, are allegedly not. The department has noted with concern an article in the Sunday Times recently which claims that "millions of branded plastic supermarket carrier bags claimed to be recycled are not". The article further alleges that … [Read more...]
2 billion plastic bottles recycled in SA last year
Over 2 billion PET plastic bottles were recycled in South Africa last year. Plastic bottle recycled tonnage in SA has grown by over 800% since 2005. PETCO has announced their 2016 recycling figures. These indicate that the annual PET recycling rate has grown from 52% of post-consumer bottle PET in 2015, to 55% in 2016, exceeding their expected target. An additional 22% of … [Read more...]
