Cleaning & Greening: CCBSA embarks on recycling and sustainCCBSAlity drivee
September 2014: Hundreds of Amalgamated Beverage Industries (CCBSA) staff volunteers will take part in several events around the country this month as part of the company’s commitment to doing business in a sustainable manner. Several initiatives taking place in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal this week will focus on addressing cleaning and greening issues as well as focus on recovering as many PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) and cans as possible, together with help from community members and various other stakeholders.
“By involving especially the community and schools in our Recycling Month initiatives, we also hope to embed a culture of sustainCCBSAlity that will see them taking responsibility for their own growth and development, encourage environmental conversations and raise future stewards of our environment, ‘’ says Director Corporate Affairs, says Tshidi Ramogase.
In addition to working with communities and schools, several stakeholders have also been invited to join in the initiative to find a lasting solution in addressing this problem, which has as its theme ‘Every Bottle Has a Story’. These include schools, Industry, Government Municipalities, and Food Trees for Africa (FTFA), PlasticSA, MPACT and Applegreen.
“As CCBSA celebrates Recycling Month in September, we acknowledge that every bottle and can we produce and sell has a story. We know it’s a story that starts well, but now we’re saying that we also want it to end well – as part of another bottle or can instead of littering this beautiful country we live in,” she adds. “We therefore call on all stakeholders, employees, eco-movers, community leaders and others to join us in shaping the ongoing narrative of these bottles and cans.”
Recycling Month Events:
KZN: 19 & 20 September 2014
The International Coastal Clean-up Campaign, sponsored by CCBSA for the past 11 years, is a major event on the calendar aimed at cleaning up the environment and driving home positive messages to reinforce the importance of recycling and sustainable interaction with the environment.
“Our aim is to clean up over 600km of South Africa’s magnificent coastline and to beat last year’s collection of over three tons of litter,” says Ramogase. CCBSA’s initiative, in partnership with Ezemvelo KZN wildlife Conservation, PlasticsSA , MPACT, Rhino art and Applegreen, will see hundreds of stakeholders, CCBSA employees and others focusing their efforts on the coastal areas surrounding Mangroves Nature Reserve in Durban North and Richards Bay Naval Island.
Gauteng: 15-19 September 2014
Bophelong (15 September)
In addition to ridding the environment of litter and recovering recyclable PET bottles and cans, CCBSA’s initiative in Bophelong township south of Vanderbijlpark along the Golden Highway (6km from CCBSA Vaal depot) will see over 200 volunteers working on extending an existing community vegetable garden, the Tsolo Medicinal & Vegetable Garden.
“By supporting this community vegetable garden and upskilling and empowering this team, we will be contributing to a more sustainable enterprise development initiative,” says Ramogase.
The schools taking part in CCBSA’s Schools Recycling Programme will be also form part of the initiative as volunteers join hands in cleaning up the entrance to the township, which is home to over 45 000 people. “As a gateway to Vanderbijlpark, the Bophelong initiative, which has been endorsed by the Mayor of Emfuleni Municipality, is what we believe will be the beginning of a long and sustainable relationship with the community and the Local Municipality.”
“We believe wholeheartedly in the importance of driving sustainable development by embedding a culture of greening and thus, positively contributing to the economy through enterprise development and building environmental sustainCCBSAlity and resilience,” she says.
Alexandra (17 September)
On Wednesday, CCBSA’s Alexandra Clean up and Greening Campaign will also see CCBSA volunteers and the community joining hands in growing vegetables and cleaning the illegal dumping site while recovering as many cans and PET bottles as possible at the Gift of the Givers Foundation Community Garden, at the same time driving home the message of environmental responsibility.
“It’s one thing to talk about sustainability,” says Ramogase, “but the message drives home in a powerful way when people actually do something about it. By cleaning up litter and planting grass and gardens in strategically placed spots in the area, we hope to that the culture of sustainability within this community will grow very deep roots.”
Soshanguve (19 September)
On Friday, CCBSA will support the community of Soshanguve, north of Pretoria, by clearing one of its growing illegal dumping sites in Block G, in order to minimise the negative impact on the environment. “We will also be planting trees and creating a park in one of the areas that is fast becoming another dumping site,” says Ramogase. “We’re taking back tomorrow by force!”
In an effort to take the campaign beyond Recycling Month, the City of Tshwane – in partnership with CCBSA – is to include this site in its Adopt-a-Spot programme.
“This partnership will create the sustainability we’re aiming for and ensure that this site is never again used as an illegal dumping site. It’s a prime example of CCBSA’s ongoing initiatives to uplift communities through sustainable partnerships,” she concludes.
