While September marks the beginning of a new season, it also welcomes National Clean-up Week, and what better way to restore and rekindle a love for the outdoors than by recycling all glass bottles and jars! With the current glass recycling rate in South Africa at 41.5% and 82% of glass bottles and jars diverted from landfill as a result of both recycling efforts and the returnable bottles system, it’s time to step back and ask, what can I do to make a difference?
The Glass Recycling Company (TGRC) is proud to partner with Uber Eats and are encouraging all South Africans to make it a priority to recycle all their glass bottles and jars, and all other recyclable material during National Clean-Up Week which will run from 10 to 16 September and National Recycling Day which is on 15 September!
During National Clean-Up Week, TGRC and Uber Eats will be running a competition across Gauteng, Durban and Cape Town, encouraging people to take a photo of themselves at a glass bank recycling their glass bottles and jars. All photos can then be posted to either TGRC’s Facebook page or Uber Eats South Africa’s Facebook pageusing the social media handles @TheGlassRecyclingCo and @Ubereatsza as well as the hashtags #Heart4Glass and #UberEatsRecycles.
As a reward, TGRC will be rewarding the best social media post each day from 10 to 16 September with an Uber Eats voucher to the value of R100. In addition, Uber Eats will be selecting one overall winner and rewarding them with a grand prize on Sunday, 16 September, which will consist of an Uber Eats voucher to the value of R700. So, get recycling!
“We are proud to be partnering with Uber Eats during September to increase the awareness on glass recycling and how incredibly important it is for people to look after our environment. We hope people have fun with the campaign and make the small effort to recycle their glass bottles and jars at a glass bank and take a selfie and post it to the relevant Facebook pages,” explains Shabeer Jhetam, CEO of The Glass Recycling Company.
“It’s an exciting initiative to be a part of. Sometimes, it’s the smallest of actions combined that have the greatest potential to make a difference, and with TGRC we hope to inspire all South Africans to think consciously about our shared community,” explains Ailyssa Pretorius, Uber Eats General Manager of South Africa.
It’s encouraging to note that a large percentage of South Africa’s youth understand the importance of recycling and actively recycle on a daily basis. It isn’t difficult to make a small difference, and collectively the human population has the potential and power to create a world that translates effortlessly from a mere dream to a palpable reality. It starts now, and it starts with you. A minor action becomes a major habit, and recycling is a simple and sustainable way to live now and for years to come.
Some glass recycling tips:
- Glass containers, bottles and jars, such as those used for food and beverages can be recycled.
- Glass that cannot be recycled with packaging glass: Windscreen glass, window pane glass, mirrors, light bulbs, drinking glasses and tumblers, Pyrex or laboratory glass. These items cannot be recycled with your regular glass recycling as this glass has different properties to packaging glass.
- Remove the cap from the bottle before you place your recycling in the glass bank.
