According to Mandy Naudé, CEO of the Polyolefin Responsibility Organisation (Polyco), as per new regulations of 29 April – recycling is now permitted at 50% capacity and informal recyclers are permitted to resume operations.
To encourage people to start or to keep recycling during lockdown, Polyco pledged to donate a further R10 to this fund for every new Facebook page like and Instagram page follow that the Million Plus pages received until 8 May, up to a maximum of R50,000. The Million Plus plastic recycling revolution is a movement aimed at mobilising more than one million South Africans to recycle their plastic packaging. ‘Now is a great time to pledge your commitment to better household recycling habits by joining the Million Plus plastic recycling revolution,’ said Naudé.
‘While everyone is at home, household waste generation has increased; recyclers and collection companies have not been able to operate; and our waste pickers have been cut off from their livelihoods. These people and this sector needs your support now, more than ever before. As we manage our way through this pandemic, we need to acknowledge our waste workers who keep our waste sector running and our environment clean,’ said Naudé.
‘We recognise the important role that waste reclaimers play within the recycling sector and in turn how the recycling stream provides them with a source of income,’ said Naudé. ‘Polyco has donated R100,000 towards a relief fund for informal waste reclaimers that has collected over R785,000 from Polyco and other industry organisations.’
Waste reclaimers who are members of ARO and SAWPA have received electronic Goodwill Vouchers on their cellphones via eVoucher.mobi that are redeemable at a number of outlets to buy essential goods.
Polyco has also shown its solidarity with the users of their innovative mobile separation-at-source recycling service, Packa-Ching, who have not been able to sell their recyclables to Packa-Ching during lockdown. Polyco has donated an additional R120,000 to Packa-Ching users, who have used the service in 2020 and who rely on selling their used recyclable packaging material to Packa-Ching to earn an income.
‘We are calling on all South Africans to please keep recycling during lockdown. Wash and put out your recyclables for collection, or store them at home until a point when you can take them to a recycling drop-off location,’ said Naudé. ‘By doing this, you are helping to prevent this valuable stream from going to landfill and helping to stimulate our recycling economy.’
While the waste and recycling sector comes together to support waste reclaimers, you can support the growth of the recycling sector by joining the Million Plus revolution. ‘Make recycling your next lockdown challenge. How much of your waste are you recycling and how many of your friends and family can you get to join?’ asked Naudé.
Let the recycling community know @millionplusrecyclers on Instagram or on the Million Plus Recyclers Facebook page.
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