POLOKWANE – Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa has introduced a Schools Recycling Programme (SRP) that encourages learners to collect waste in the hopes of winning amazing prizes which will go to improving their schools’ conditions.
The programme has been in existence since 2011 and has grown in numbers since its inception but has only recently been introduced to Polokwane. Sixteen schools in the city have been approached to become part of the programme, and over 400 schools all over the country are participating in the programme.
The aim of the programme within the city is to create a cleaner environment, one school at a time.
According to the Greencape Market Intelligence report that was issued last year, the waste management landscape in South Africa is transforming due to policy and regulatory development which has led to pressures on various municipalities, as well as an increase in awareness of sustainability imperatives in the industry.
Regional Communications Specialist, Lindiwe Zikalala, told Review the schools recycling programme was introduced to assist in raising awareness among learners about the importance of waste management and recycling.
” Through this programme learners also realised the difference they can make in their own communities,” she said.
She added that schools need to commit to collect a minimum of 1000 kilograms of polyethylene terephalate (PET) per month. Schools that collect 2 tons or more stand in line to win a prize in addition to the revenue that they generate from selling the waste.
To round off the programme an award ceremony will be held in September to congratulate the top performing schools.
“School recycling is one of our biggest and most exciting programmes in the business. It was important for us to establish a sustainable way to recover waste after it has been consumed. Furthermore, we felt it important that the recovery process was supported by education to establish a long-term environmental awareness and protection, especially for our future generation,” Zikalala said.
