KLOOF Senior Primary School were announced as the national winners for glass recycling by the Glass Recycling Company and were given R50 000 for their efforts.
For a number of years, a new generation of eco-warriors has been emerging in schools thanks to the efforts of The Glass Recycling Company (TGRC) and the Annual Glass Recycling Schools Competition. Seeking to educate pupils about the importance of diverting glass from the country’s ever-expanding landfills, the contest invites pupils with a green conscience to collect and recycle as many glass bottles and jars as possible, in the hope of winning a cash prize.
This month has seen TGRC’s CEO, Shabeer Jhetam, announce the winning schools in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng for 2015. “The importance of glass recycling in our country’s efforts to reduce our carbon footprint cannot be overstated. By diverting glass from landfills we protect the environment, reduce South Africa’s greenhouse emissions and conserve much needed energy for our national electricity grid.”
“While every effort made by each participating learner is of value, special mention must be made of Kloof Senior Primary School in KwaZulu-Natal for consistently topping the list of winners in this competition. I can honestly say that this faculty embodies the recycling values we hope to instill in the future generations of our country. To date, this school alone has recycled 179 271kgs of glass,” said Shabeer.
As a nation South Africa consumes three million tons of glass packaging annually, but only needs to produce one million tons as a direct result of not only the advanced returnable system, but also the country’s intensive recycling efforts.
“Thank you to Stokers and Makaranga for their contribution to our recycling programme. KSP is blessed to have a wonderful support system made up of past and present parents, delightful pupils and staff, as well as the Kloof community. We aim to collect 100 tons of glass this year and would greatly appreciate the continued support,” said Kaycee Dalrymple-Kelly, recycling coordinator at KSP.
If you would like to help the Kloof Senior Primary School with its recycling efforts, you can drop off your paper, cardboard, glass and plastic at the recycling centre. The school recycles from Tuesday to Friday, with all weekend drop-offs being sorted on a Monday.
