Clean Up SA Week



South Africans of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to do their share to keep our country beautiful during Clean Up South Africa week which will take place from the 13th to the 18th of September 2010. Various clean-up and recycling activities will take place throughout South Africa this week, culminating in Recycling Day on Friday, 17 September 2010 and the 25th International Coastal Clean-Up Day on Saturday, 18 September 2010.
The South African Plastics Industry's Enviromark is calling on all South Africans to do their share in keeping South African beautiful and litter free during this year's special clean-up week.
According to Douw Steyn, Environmental Director of the Plastics Federation of South Africa, the aim of this week is to raise awareness so that everybody can make a difference by keeping South Africa clean and litter free. 'The Clean-Up South Africa Week aims to focus on the importance of individual efforts. Regardless of your age, background or income, each South African citizen has a responsibility to help rid our country of litter and recycle waste ' whether they are at school, in an office block or even an old aged home. Every paper you pick up and every plastic wrapper you throw into the recycling bin makes a huge difference in the collective end', Steyn says.

Recycling Day on Friday 17 September

Various activities are being planned by individuals, schools and community groups between 13 and 18 September. The Enviromark team will be focusing their attention on Recycling Day. 'On this day, we'll raise awareness by educating the community about the social, environmental and economic benefits of recycling,' Steyn says.
The South African Plastics Recycling Organisation (SAPRO) and the Plastics Industry's Enviromark will also mark this day by announcing the winners of their '100% RECYCLED, 100% CREATIVE' SAPRO / Enviromark Recycled Plastics Product Competition for 2010.South African converters and innovators who have given their creativity free reign in various product categories will be honored at a prize giving ceremony in Midrand, when the winners of the first annual competitionwill be announced.
'We are seeing a growing awareness and interest in recycling amongst all sectors of the South African society. Our message about the importance of the three R's (i.e. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) is being heard by business, government, individual citizens and organizations throughout the country. The South African plastics industry is leading this wave by providingsupport toindividuals and organizations whorecycle plastics into a wide variety of products, such as fiber, carpets, plastic bins and containers, pipes, gumboots, picture frames and plastic timber whichlooks like wood. The ongoing challenge, however, lies in educating consumers about their role in recycling plastics and developing new ideas and markets for the products'