Eco-heroes advised to stay safe this Clean-Up and Recycle SA Week

“This year’s Clean-Up and Recycle SA Week will be taking place from 14-19 September, culminating in National Recycling Day on Friday, 18 September and the International Coastal Clean-Up Day/Let’s Do It World Clean-up Day on Saturday, 19 September. Unfortunately, early indications are that the Covid-19 pandemic will be forcing a change in our plans to host our annual beach and community clean-ups,” says Douw Steyn, Plastics|SA’s director of sustainability.

Steyn explains that South Africa finds itself in the same uncertain situation as countries around the world owing to the fact that large public gatherings are prohibited and beaches are closed in an effort to prevent the spreading of the disease.

Avoid large group gatherings

“The International Coastal Clean-Up Day is the world’s biggest volunteer effort for ocean health. Over the past 24 years that South Africa has been participating in this global event, we have seen tens of thousands of people give up two hours of their time to help rid our beaches of litter. This year, however, we will be supporting the global call to avoid large group gatherings and maintain social distancing in the interest of everybody’s health and safety,” Steyn says.

Instead of flocking to beaches or gathering in groups for clean-ups, Plastics SA is spreading the message that this year, every South African should be an eco-warrior… one who wears a mask, maintains safe distancing and makes a difference in their immediate area.

Vital to recycle

In the same way the health pandemic has forced individuals to take responsibility for their health, the plastics and packaging industries are uniting their voices in calling on South Africans to also become responsible citizens when it comes to disposing of their waste.

Says Steyn: “It is vital to recycle as much of our country’s waste as possible in order to reduce the strain on our country’s landfill sites. Reusing and recycling plastic products reduces the material’s environmental footprint as it uses less water, energy and other raw materials to create new products. In addition, more than 60,000 people are employed by the plastics manufacturing and recycling industries, making a meaningful contribution to the country’s economy.”

For more information about Clean-Up and Recycle SA week, go to www.cleanupandrecycle.co.za.