Johannesburg – Amalgamated Beverage Industries (CCBSA) will award over R250 000 this year in prizes to the best performing schools, educators and partners in its Schools Recycling Programme.
Over the past three years CCBSA’s school recycling programme saw over 350 000 children and 11 000 teachers benefit from the programme, making it a key recycling drive in South Africa. The CCBSA schools recycling programme not only provides a waste management solution in schools, but teaches children to become accountable for their environment.
A total of 650 tonnes of recyclable material (plastic bottles, cans and paper) has been collected by participating schools since the start of the program. This is equivalent to 4030 cubic metres of landfill space saved.
The awards ceremony, which is to be held at CCBSA’s Midrand Manufacturing plant, will see prizes being handed out to schools with the best dedication to recycling, giving them much needed recognition with tangible rewards, showing the children that it indeed pays to go green.
During the adjudication process to decide on the winning schools, CCBSA judged the schools not only on the waste volumes collected, but also the involvement of their community, innovation in using recyclable material, as well as the motivation of children to participate. The schools had until 31 October to complete their submissions, showing how they have made the programme a success in their school.
The best recycling school wins a prize of R50 000, the first runner up wins R30 000 and the second runner up wins R20 000. The top 10 eco-champions in schools receive rewards of R3 500 each. Cash prizes are used on infrastructure development projects to benefit the schools. The infrastructural needs are awarded as expressed by the schools.
“A programme of this nature has the potential to change social behaviour towards responsible waste management, create more jobs and create ownership and awareness amongst communities,” said Itumeleng Matlaila, Corporate Affairs Manager at CCBSA.
“The CCBSA Schools Recycling Programme is about children having fun whilst learning about serious environmental issues. Every South African child needs to be made aware of how waste and litter is damaging our country and our planet,” said Matlaila. “Our programme aims to make recycling a culture in schools, educate learners about the importance of recycling, incentivise teachers and parents to recycle, empower grassroots entrepreneurs and create awareness in communities.”
Apart from the annual prizes, CCBSA also awards bi-monthly prizes to the value of R160 000, throughout the competition period, such as laboratory equipment, soccer and netball kits, arts and culture uniforms, gardening supplies as well as printers and tablets.
The Schools Recycling Programme is a flagship programme of CCBSA’s commitment to sustainCCBSAlity. “In order to change the behavioural patterns of our country we need to change the mindset of an entire generation,” said CCBSA sustainable development manager at CCBSA, Gaopaleloe Mothoagae. “We place an increasing emphasis on our waste management practices such as reduction, reuse and recycling of waste generated.”
“The health and prosperity of the communities in which we operate is essential to our profitCCBSAlity and growth. Behaving responsibly towards all our stakeholders is part of our beliefs and fundamental to building sustainable markets,” said Mothoagae. Last year FF Ribeiro Primary School, from Mamelodi West won the overall prize, the first runner-up was Boikgantsho Primary School and the second runner up was Lourdes Primary from Diepkloof. The eco-warriors at FF Ribeiro collected more than 10 tonnes of material.
At FF Ribeiro waste has become a valuable commodity and the playground is no longer riddled with trash. The adults of tomorrow are seeing first hand why it is important to recycle, while teachers are motivated to teach good practices. At the same time the learners waste management behaviour spreads to the rest of the community as they spread the message of recycling into their homes.
The Schools Recycling Awards will take place on Tuesday, 18 November 2014 at CCBSA Midrand.
