South Africans once again showed their commitment to the environment this past weekend by participating in the 28th International Coastal Clean-up that took place at beaches around the country this past Saturday (21 September 2013). Clean-ups took place on most of South Africa’s beaches where gloves, refuse bags and data sheets were handed out to volunteers upon their … [Read more...]
Recycling innovation at plastics competition
The South African Plastics Recycling Organisation (SAPRO) is reminding companies or individuals wishing to enter their products for the 2013 Best Recycled Plastic Product of the Year Competition that the closing date is around the corner. All entry forms and products entered must be delivered at the Plastics|SA Head Office in Midrand by Monday, the 26th of August … [Read more...]
Become part of a cleaner future
Spring brings the idea of new life and a fresh start to life, which includes living in a cleaner, unpolluted environment. September is traditionally the month in which South Africans from all walks of life are encouraged to clean-up and recycle where they work, live or play This year, 16-21 September 2013 will once again be “Clean-up and Recycle Week” which will culminate in … [Read more...]
Setting sail for the plastic seas
“How sad it is that garbage and debris are what is calling us to wild shores,” said ocean conservation pioneer Dr. Carl Safina as he joined an international team of scientists, artists and educators in Seward on Friday. Dr. Safina and the others are taking part in Project Gyre, a marine debris expedition and exhibition of marine debris art from the giant rotating ocean … [Read more...]
Solutions urgently needed for marine debris dilemmas
Plastic bags have been found under the dwindling arctic ice. Inaccessible Island’s beaches are covered in plastic, yet it is 3 000 km’s away from the closest source of plastic waste. Considering that we produce about 300 million tons of plastic per year, the bulk of which is not being reused or recycled, these reports are only going to get more shocking. The first ever … [Read more...]
New plastics-to-fuel processing plant a real gamechanger
To say our growing stockpiles of non-degradable plastic waste are an environmental headache has to be the understatement of the century. However, thanks to Somerset West inventor William Graham, this highly problematic waste has just become a valuable resource. Here’s why: His modular, fully automated plastics-to-fuel processing plant converts all types of waste plastics … [Read more...]
Cleanup array to remove plastic from the ocean
19-year-old Boyan Slat has unveiled plans to create an Ocean Cleanup Array that could remove 7,250,000 tons of plastic waste from the world’s oceans. The device consists of an anchored network of floating booms and processing platforms that could be dispatched to garbage patches around the world. Instead of moving through the ocean, the array would span the radius of a garbage … [Read more...]
18% more plastic beverage bottles recycled
2012 marked a period of continued achievement for the PET Plastic Recycling Company (Pty) Ltd (PETCO) and its’ 28 signatories. This activity has contributed to the increased recovery and recycling of PET plastic beverage bottles, and the diversion of material from landfill. PETCO is pleased to announce that post-consumer plastic beverage bottle recycling volumes in South … [Read more...]
Pulling together to support firefighters in Paarl
Scores of firefighters, volunteers and Working on Fire crew were deployed to temper the fires in the Franschhoek Mountains. Friends rose to the occasion with the generous donation of bottled water, beverages and food. The fires broke out on Sunday the 27 Jan 2013 on Franschhoek’s northern mountains, burnt up the mountain valley, along the top of the northern range of the … [Read more...]
Is plastic sustainable?
The South African plastics industry will be debating various issues that impact on its growth and future prospects with the first-ever industry specific conference, hosted by Plastics|SA. Aptly entitled “Plastics: The Future for Growth”, this one day conference will take place on Wednesday, 13 March 2013 and promises to be one of the highlights of this year’s Pro-Plas … [Read more...]
Clean Up & Recycle Schools: winners announced
Plastics|SA has announced the names of the winning schools that entered its sixth annual Clean-Up & Recycle Competition. According to Douw Steyn, Director Sustainability, Plastics|SA, this year’s competition again attracted entries from across South Africa. “The aim of this competition was to create awareness of and educate learners on the positive attributes of plastics … [Read more...]
Waging war on waste in eBhayi
Earlier this year, PETCO launched 3 projects in the Eastern Cape, which have received support via the provision of equipment for their operations. The projects, namely Enviroman and Green Guardian in Jeffrey’s Bay and Cannibal Multi Recycling in Port Elizabeth, are all established businesses providing waste management and recycling services but also sustaining the economy … [Read more...]
Latest plastics recycling survey results released
According to Plastics|SA’s third annual survey of the plastics recycling industry in South Africa, the recycling of plastics has shown a year-to-year increase in the total tonnage being converted since the 2009 survey. In 2011 South Africa had 196 plastic recyclers who collectively recycled 245 696 tons of plastics. This is 1,6 % more than in 2010, whereas the virgin … [Read more...]
