Clean-Up & Recycle SA Week took place from 14 - 19 September 2020, culminating in National Recycling Day on Friday, 18 September and South Africa's 24th year of participating in the annual International Coastal Clean-Up Day on Saturday, 19 September. "With an emphasis on COVID-safe clean-ups this year, we asked coordinators to keep the numbers of volunteers to below … [Read more...]
Award winner for clean-up champion of the year announced
Alison Bryant of the Keep Plett Clean Campaign is the winner of the Caroline Reid Award for the Cleanup Champion of 2019. This new, annual award was established by Plastics|SA to recognise and reward excellence in South Africa by an individual in the field of marine and coastal clean-ups. Making the announcement during a gala dinner to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of … [Read more...]
Searching for technical innovations to eliminate SA’s plastic waste
The search is on for science, technology and technical innovations that will help reduce and eliminate plastic waste, and be the next great 21st century innovation that could change the world, as the UK-based Commonwealth Litter Programme (CLIP), introduces its STOMP (Stamp Out Marine Plastic Pollution) Awards in South Africa. The awards, which are open to all South African … [Read more...]
Greenpeace Africa volunteers start ambitious campaign for plastic ban
A group of Greenpeace Africa volunteers in Cape Town has started an ambitious campaign calling on South Africa's top political parties to adopt a ban on single-use plastics in their election manifestos ahead of this year's presidential election. The group is urging South Africa's political elite to recognise that the country is lagging behind in the continental battle … [Read more...]
Volunteers help free Robben Island from waste burden
One of South Africa’s most famous landmarks, Robben Island, was freed from some of its waste burden as more than 100 volunteers, guided by the national PET Recycling Company (PETCO) and Plastics SA, embarked on the island’s biggest ever waste collection drive. The tourist attraction and World Heritage Site, which draws over 300 000 visitors annually, is plagued by visitor … [Read more...]
Shopping without plastic bags?
South Africa does not have a law banning plastic bags. However, to reduce littering and discourage customers from buying them, the plastic bag levy was increased in April by 50 percent to 12 cents per bag. SA department store chain Woolworths Holdings will be removing single-use plastic bags from one of its stores during a six-month trial period in a bid to end plastic … [Read more...]
Plastics industry encourages role players to strive for zero pellet loss
The South African plastics industry has reiterated its commitment to keep our water sources free of plastic pollution. Plastics|SA’s Executive Director, Anton Hanekom, said reducing the amount of plastics that make their way into streams, rivers and the ocean is one of the biggest focus areas for the plastics industry worldwide today. Plastics|SA was one of the first … [Read more...]
Clean-up and Recycle SA celebrates 21 years of beach guardianship
Clean-up and Recycle SA Week will take place this year from 11 – 17 September 2017, with various clean-ups being planned for neighbourhoods, water sources and beaches around the country. One of the highlights of this annual environmental awareness event, will be the 21st International Coastal Clean-Up Day (ICC) that will be taking place on Saturday, 16 September … [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...]
Global plastics industry combats marine litter
Seven new signatories were added to The Declaration of the Global Plastics Associations for Solutions on Marine Litter, also informally known as the “Joint Declaration” in 2016. New participants include the American Fiber Manufacturers Association (AFMA), the Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BPGMEA), the Flexible Packaging Association … [Read more...]
Milk bottles into walkways to protect crucial KZN mangrove beaches
The walkways at the Beachwood Mangroves in Durban were upgraded for World Oceans Day last month by means of recycled plastic, including thousands of milk bottles and plastic bags. This is the day when people all over the world celebrate 'Healthy Oceans - Healthy Planet' and promote the prevention of marine litter. The initiative was a collaboration between Plastics|SA (the … [Read more...]
Waste collection at major events a boon for recycling education
March and April are traditionally two very busy months in Cape Town for 205 cleaners employed from local townships to quickly and effectively pick up for recycling all litter left behind by spectators and athletes during the city's biggest sporting events - the Cape Town Cycle Race and the Two Oceans marathon. This effort is organised by Plastics|SA, led by their … [Read more...]
10 years of recycling success at Cape cycling race
Cyclers and spectators are dropping less waste! This was discovered this month during the annual Cape Town Cycle Tour. Two teams of clean-up crews recruited from local townships near Ocean View ensured that it was collected for recycling at various water and spectator points, the start and the finish, hospitality part, and refreshment points. The race also saw the … [Read more...]
