Cleanup South Africa Week 2010

Aug. 26, 2010 - PRLog -- The South African Plastics Industry’s Enviromark is calling on all South Africans to do their share in keeping South African beautiful and litter free during this year’s Clean-Up South Africa Week which will take place from the 13th to 18th of September 2010.
According to Douw Steyn, Environmental Director of the Plastics Federation of South Africa, the aim of this week is to raise awareness so that everybody can make a difference by keeping South Africa clean and litter free.  “The Clean-Up South Africa Week aims to focus on the importance of individual efforts.  Regardless of your age, background or income, each South African citizen has a responsibility to help rid our country of litter and recycle waste – whether they are at school, in an office block or even and old aged home.  Every paper you pick up and every plastic wrapper you throw into the recycling bin makes a huge difference in the collective end”, Steyn says.
•   Recycling Day on Friday, 17 September 2010
Although various activities are being planned by individuals, schools and community groups between the 13th and 18th of September 2010, the Enviromark team will be focusing their attention on Recycling Day which will take place on Friday, the 17th of September 2010.  “On this day, we will raise awareness by educating the community about the social, environmental and economic benefits of recycling,” Steyn says.  
The South African Plastics Recycling Organisation (SAPRO) and the Plastics Industry’s Enviromark will mark this day by announcing the winners of their “100% RECYCLED, 100% CREATIVE” SAPRO / Enviromark Recycled Plastics Product Competition for 2010.   South African converters and innovators who have given their creativity free reign in various product categories will be honored at a prize giving ceremony in Midrand when the winners of the first annual competition, will be announced.
“We are seeing a growing awareness and interest in recycling amongst all sectors of the South African society. Our message about the importance of the three R’s (i.e. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) is being heard by business, government, individual citizens and organizations throughout the country.  The South African plastics industry is leading this wave by providing support to individuals and organizations who recycle plastics into a wide variety of products, such as fiber, carpets, plastic bins and containers, pipes, gumboots, picture frames and plastic timber which looks like wood. The ongoing challenge, however, lies in educating consumers about their role in recycling plastics and developing new ideas and markets for the products”.  

•   25th Annual International Coastal Cleanup on Saturday, 18 September 2010

The Plastics Federation of South Africa is also calling on South Africans to help make our country cleaner and healthier by removing litter from our beaches and rivers on International Coastal Clean-Up Day which takes place on Saturday, 18 September 2010.  

“Last year alone, nearly 400,000 volunteers (from over 100 countries) collected more than 3.2 million kilograms of litter from the oceans and waterways,” says John Kieser, Environmental Manager of the Plastics Federation of South Africa (Plasfed) and National Coordinator of the event.  In South Africa alone, 16 000 volunteers in the four coastal provinces removed more than 10 tons of litter in 2009 during the week prior and on the International Cleanup day.

“Litter in the ocean isn't just ugly, it impacts everything,” Kieser goes on to explain. “It can make the ocean more vulnerable to impact   from climate change, coastal development and overfishing. It impacts local economies, seafood industries and recreation, and reduces our access to beaches”.

Tragically, litter that falls from our hands, kills. Birds, whales, dolphins, seals, and fish eat things they shouldn’t — like bottle caps and grocery bags — and many of them die. Each year, thousands of marine mammals and hundreds of thousands of birds ingest or become entangled in litter that falls from our hands.

During the month of September, South Africans will have the opportunity to participate in cleanup activities all over South Africa – at inland waterways, on local beaches, in streams, and dams — because no matter where we live, we're all connected to the ocean.  Even litter that falls from our hands hundreds of kilometers away, eventually finds its way to the ocean”, Kieser says.

Turning the tide on litter is one of the easiest ways to help protect our country. Together, we can solve the problem of litter lining our streets and waterways and prevent its most serious impacts. Although rubbish is one of the most widespread pollution problems we face, it is also entirely preventable, and cleaning it up is fast, easy, and fun.

When you volunteer your time and energy during Clean-Up South Africa Week 2010, you will be joining a countrywide movement of individuals who are turning the tide on litter in our beautiful land.

If you are interested in arranging a cleanup in your neighborhood, or if you would like to join one of the cleanup groups, visit www.cleanup-sa.co.za or www.recyclingday-sa.co.za.

For more information:

•   Recycling Day enquiries please call Douw Steyn on 011 653 4794,  e-mail douw.steyn@plasfed.co.za.
•   25th International Coastal Clean-Up Day call John Kieser on 021 591 5513 ,       or email john.kieser@plasfed.co.za



ENDS


Issued on behalf of the Plastics Federation of South Africa.
For more information, contact Dianne Blumberg 011 653 4784 or Dianne.blumberg@plasfed.co.za

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About the Plastics Federation of South Africa. Besides being the voice of and gateway to the South African Plastics Industry and developing and providing training to the industry, one of the strategies of our Environmental Division, is the education and awareness creation of litter recovery and recycling, through suitable programmes and meaningful initiatives with partners, within the communities of South Africa.