Schools can add to their income by recycling waste materials that would otherwise be discarded.
Paper
If every household in South Africa recycled paper, we could save more than one million cubic metres of valuable landfill space a year. Morever, every household would save four pine trees if it recycled its paper and cardboard. Mondi Paper runs a schools paper collection programme, paying 20c for a kilogram of paper or cardboard.
For every 10kg, the school receives R20 – the cost of about three loaves of bread. Mondi provides schools with recycling bins, which it collects. Schools that would like to get involved can call the Mondi toll free number 0800 022 112.
Cans
Collect-a-Can encourages schools to get involved in recycling programmes. Schools can deliver tins to their nearest Collect-a-Can branch and they will receive 53c a kilogram. The company will also collect cans, for which they give schools 36c a kilogram.
But remember, not all domestic waste products are suitable for recycling. For advice, call Johannesburg 011 494 3623; Pretoria 012 804 2499; Vanderbijilpark 016 988 1332; Cape Town 021 534 7010; Durban 031 700 5935; or visit www.collectacan.co.za.
Plastic
The following plastic items can be recycled:
food and beverage containers
household-cleaner containers (hard plastic such as that used for cleaners such as Handy Andy, bleach, dishwashing liquid and fabric softener).
plastic bags (soft plastic such as that used to wrap magazines, six-packs of beer or packs of toilet paper).
Different prices are paid for different types of plastic taken for recycling. For more information, call the Buy Back Centre 0763034720.
Glass
The recent power outages have made energy saving a priority. The energy saved from recycling just one glass bottle is astounding: sufficient to power a 100W glass bulb for almost an hour.
The Glass Recycling Company is placing glass banks throughout South Africa, encouraging everyone to deposit their waste glass in a glass bank near them. From here, it will be collected and taken to a glass recycling centre, crushed into pieces called cullet, melted and moulded into an assortment of recycled glass containers.
Individuals can also recycle their own glass waste for financial benefit by collecting glass and delivering it to the nearest recycling centre. For more information on prices and recycling centres, call The Glass Recycling Company on 011 803 0767 or email www.theglassrecyclingcompany.co.za.
A few general things to remember when recycling waste:
wash and dry any food and beve-rage containers such as wine bottles, food tins and beer cans;
keep a separate bin (or bag) for each type of waste – paper, glass, metal and plastic – and throw the waste directly in it.
when your glass, paper, metal and plastic bags are full, drop them off at the recycling depot closest to you.