Award for environmental organisation

Established in 2011, greenABLE is dedicated to creating employment and skills development opportunities for people with disabilities, who in turn provide a meaningful contribution to the environment.

“A variety of environmental problems affect our world,” said Carla Higgs, director of greenABLE. “In particular, a growing population means increased volumes of waste generated. A study conducted during 2008 found that e-waste in South African homes amounted to anything between one and two million tons. The country faces challenges concerning the collection, recycling and disposal of this e-waste.

greenABLE employs previously disadvantaged persons with disabilities (80 percent women) with the aim of firstly, the empowerment and development of disabled persons; and secondly, the dismantling, cleaning and sorting of empty printer cartridges and redundant printers into their recyclable components for recycling.”

“Despite the large percentage of disabled persons in our population (between 5 and 12 percent), few services and opportunities exist for people with disabilities to participate equally in society,” said Higgs. “It is estimated that 99 percent of disabled people are unemployed.”

As the first and only printer cartridge recycling facility in Africa, greenABLE provides its beneficiaries and, or its employees (previously disadvantaged individuals with disabilities) a chance to gain work experience through stripping the cartridges into their recyclable components. These components are then sold and the plastic used to make roof tiles and manhole covers.

The beneficiaries gain both workplace experience and receive AET training to gain a matric-equivalent qualification.
At present greenABLE has 19 beneficiaries, all of whom are funded by sponsor organisations. Two former beneficiaries have already been placed in permanent employment in other organisations.

Details: www.greenoffice.co.za/sustainability/greenable.html