By Dominique Herman
A National glass recycling initiative is being launched this month with the goal of increasing South Africa's recycling levels from 20 percent to 50 percent a year in less than five years.
The first glass processing plant is to be constructed in Bellville.
The infrastructure for people to recycle at home is not in place yet, but thousands of schools are to participate in the initiative. Start-up assistance is to be provided for entrepreneurs to build businesses collecting and selling waste glass.
| 'Glass recycling has become a national government priority' |
"Glass recycling has become a national government priority following on the success of the 'plastic bag' drive," Deputy Minister for Environmental Affairs and Tourism Rejoice Mabudafhasi said on Thursday.
She said the industry had agreed to a self-regulation model by signing a memorandum of understanding.
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"Glass is infinitely recyclable and can be reused efficiently and economically throughout its lifetime," said Mike Arnold of Consol, one of the country's leading glass manufacturers and one of the initiative's participants.
South Africa produces just over 700 000 tons of glass a year and this goes towards creating 2,5-billion bottles.
The initiative is to be based on the advanced repurchase system in use in the UK and Germany - whose glass recycling levels are 45 percent and 81 percent respectively. Users of glass, such as bottlers and fillers, are to pay a voluntary levy for each container that is to generate up to R20-million a year.
"This is arguably one of the most effective forms of recycling in the industry as it raises the costs at the beginning of the lifecycle of the product and as a result the consumer wouldn't see any difference," Arnold said.
The standard container levy of seven cents could even be reduced in time once there was a lesser need for education about and promotion of recycling.
- This article was originally published on page 3 of Cape Times on May 20, 2005
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