New energy to make difference

Enter a new year of recycling, reusing, recovering. And the renewed energy to make a difference.

If you still think that your clear plastic beverage bottles aren’t recycled, think again. Last year, PETCO, recyclers of PET plastic, found themselves in top spot. They saw nearly 40 000 tons of PET collected, moved into fresh new offices, reclaimed the high ground with the launch of their innovative consumer ad campaign, and received more than R20 million’s worth of media coverage.

So now they’re into 2012 with a lot planned for this year and many exciting activities designed exclusively for their members.

Pecha Kucha Stimulates Discussion

The first, in February, is a fast-paced inspiration-fest of ideas where some of the top people in our country will challenge and stimulate you. In the style of Pecha Kucha (if you’ve never heard of that, you just have to come along to see), our speakers won’t skip a beat and you’re guaranteed to be on the edge of your seat.

Their second workshop in April is an innovative session where participants determine what will be discussed through a democratic process, on the day! This will break down the traditional boundaries between audience and speakers and allow the freshest perspectives through.

Workshop 3 will see cutting-edge political, business and trend analysis, on both a South African and international scale, focused very much on waste and recycling. And the final workshop of the year will bring about possibly the most heated debate on whether waste management in SA can collaboratively plan and implement a strategy of innovation.

Waste Want joins PET recycling family

Waste Want is a recycling collection business situated in Stikland, Cape Town. Owned and run by Anthony Jardine and Lydia Anderson-Jardine, the business operates as a buy-back centre in Stikland thereby giving a fee in return for recyclables (glass, cans, paper, and plastic). There are also two municipal drop-off sites, contracted by Waste Want, where the public can drop off all recyclable goods.

They opened their doors in August 2010 and currently employ 12 permanent and 8 temporary staff.

“Having been involved in Solid Waste Management for 10 years, I realised that our landfill sites are full and there was potential for me to play a role in the preservation of the environment” says Lydia.

Waste Want who recently signed up as associate members of PETCO currently collect 15 tons of PET per month with potential for more.

“We look forward to being part of the PETCO family and utilising our membership advantages” said the Jardine’s.

The organisation is also involved with school projects, bed and breakfasts and other private organisations.

Exciting exhibitions coming up

As PETCO’s social presence grows on Facebook, they encourage you to join the conversation on PET and recycling in South Africa .

They have also planned exciting exhibitions and extensive clean-ups as the months roll around. Keep checking their calendar for these fun events.

So stay tuned, encourage others to visit the website to find everything from recycling drop-off points to top recycling tips, and let’s get stuck into a year of success. Best wishes for a prosperous New Year from all of us at PETCO.