Plastics Industry Tackles Waste in the Environment with Annual Clean-up and Recycle SA Week 16-21 SEPTEMBER 2019

Johannesburg, 5 August 2019.

The local plastics industry will once again demonstrate its commitment to cleaning up the environment and removing plastics litter from our rivers, streams, oceans and neighbourhoods when the annual Clean-up and Recycle SA Week takes place from 16-21 September 2019.

According to Douw Steyn, Sustainability Director of Plastics|SA, this is the 23rd year that they will be involved in this initiative.

“Clean-up and Recycle SA Week began as a project of the plastics industry and Ezemvelo/KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife, in 1996. Since then, it has grown to include the participationof all the packaging streams (i.e. paper, glass, metal and tetra packaging) as well as the support of major plastic raw material suppliers, converters, brand owners and retailers, PRO’s (Product Responsibility Organisations), recycling bodies,conservationists and government. During this week, we all unite our actions around the common goal of removing as much litter as we possibly can from our environment. We also aim to teach South Africans how to dispose of their waste in a responsible way by highlighting the importance of recycling materials that can be used to create new products, generate employment and reduce our impact on the environment,” he says.

Communities, businesses, schools,environmental groups and government departments are encouraged to host their own clean-ups in the areas where they work, live or play. Where possible, Plastics|SA will support these activities by donating branded garbage disposal bags as well as offering advice on how to organise a clean-up, where and how to recycle. Moreover, the plastics industry body helps to raise awareness of these events by listing them on the Clean-Up and Recycle SA website (www.cleanupandrecycle.co.za).

“This week will culminate in Recycling Day (Friday, 20 September 2019) and South Africa’s participation in the International Coastal Clean-Up and the Let’s Do It! World Clean-Up (Saturday, 21 September). Last year,thisclean-up event attracted 17 million volunteers from 158 countries, who participated in clean-ups that tookplace around the globe on the same day. Despite six tropical cyclones, ongoing wars, conflicts and unrest, this was the largest organised clean-up that has ever taken place in a timespan of 36 hours. South Africa was proudto be part of this global event and we look forward to once again doing our bit to create immediate, and hopefully, lasting change this year,” Steyn says.

“Being concerned about plastics that end up in the environment and trying to do something about it, is nothing new to the plastics industry. In fact, we have been working consistently to bring about change for more than 20 years by educating society and working with the designers, producers, consumers and recyclers of plastic goods and packaging. We have also been lobbying provincial, national and local government about the need for improved waste management.

Whilst it is great to see the growing public support and awareness of the dangers of plastic pollution, we realise that the challenge is far from over. To truly reach our objectives of sending zero waste to landfill, dramatically reducing our environmental footprint and creating a circular economy, we need everybody’s participation. The issue of waste in the environment is a global problem, and the solution will therefore require a consistent, global effort,” Steyn concludes.

For more information, visit www.cleanupandrecycle.co.za or www.plasticsinfo.co.za

• Do you know an eco-warrior who deserves recognition? Plastics|SA is searching for individual “champions” who organize and participate in clean-ups during the year. If you know of someone that you think needs some recognition and would be worthy of the R10 000 cash prize, please nominate them for the Caroline Reid Award.

• The International Coastal Clean-Up is the largest coastal clean-up internationally and nationally and we are working towards covering as much of the coastal regions, offshore islands and waterways of South Africa.

• Organisers wishing to register the clean-ups should do so as soon as possible. Plastics|SA would like to captureall registrations by end August 2019. • Clean-ups being organised for the KwaZulu-Natal area, should please be listed making use of this registration form.

• For more information or to submit registration forms, please contact:

- KwaZulu Natal Areas: Varsha Naidu Moodley (Sea World) – Vnaidu@seaworld.org.za

- Cape Town Area: AaniyahOmardien (The Beach Co-op)– Aaniyahthebeachcoop@gmail.com

- Cape areas: John Kieser – John.Kieser@plasticssa.co.za

- Inland: Jacques Lightfoot – Jacques.Lightfoot@plasticssa.co.za