Schools around the country are gearing up to compete in the 10th annual recycle and clean-up competition.
The Plastics SA project promotes sustainable use of plastics and does so in vibrant and interactive ways.
Director of sustainability at Plastics SA Douw Steyn explained the competition runs as an annual part of Clean-up and Recycle Week SA, to encourage and promote recycling in schools, communities, businesses and
organisations.
“We have been running this national competition for the past 10 years.
“During this time, we have given away prizes to deserving schools for hosting various clean-up activities and being committed recyclers of their waste,” Steyn said.
Kabega Primary School in Port Elizabeth won last year’s competition.
A Grade 6 Afrikaans teacher at the school and member in charge of recycling said: “I think these competitions and projects are important because it teaches students the benefits of small acts to make a difference.
“We have a platform of 900 learners, who come from 900 homes where they are able to take the skills and knowledge of recycling and cleaning up and implement them in their different environments, and that’s how you start a culture of making things into a norm.”
It is estimated that more than R1.2 billion has been collected from taxes on plastic bags over the past 13 years.
According to recent research by associates of the Environmental Policy Research Unit at UCT, South Africans use about eight billion plastic bags annually.
To enter this competition, schools and businesses are required to write a short report along with some photographs about their efforts in initiating recycling and clean-up activities.
The winning school is gets R5 000, as well as a six-seater picnic table.
Cash prizes are also awarded to the school in second place, R2 000 along with a garden bench, and third place, R1 000 along with a plastic recycling bin.
Entry forms and competition rules can be downloaded from www.cleanupandrecycle.co.za/competition.
The closing date for this year’s competition is October 31.
Entries will be judged during the first week of
November.
Winners will be announced shortly thereafter.
“We look forward to seeing new schools enter the competition this year and proving their worth as our eco-warriors of the future.
“There is wealth in waste and we want as many schools as possible to benefit from this competition that teaches pupils the importance of looking after their environment, while at the same time benefiting the school and their community,” Steyn said.