How to recycle?

1. Remove the cap or lid: The cap is often made from material that is different from the container or bottle. In most cases this will be obvious, glass jars and bottles, Tetrapak etc, however with plastics the cap could become a source of contamination for the plastic resin that is being recycled from the bottle. These lids and caps can still be recycled so please don’t just dump them, simply remove them and put them in your recycling bag separately.

2. Rinse: Although the recycling facilities clean the recyclables as part of the process, it is much easier if you quickly rinse your bottles and containers before you place them in the recycling bag. This doesn't mean you need to thoroughly wash the bottle and please don’t use soap, since that requires time, energy, and quantities of water as well. Simply drain out any remaining liquids and rinse it out briefly.

3. Flatten or Crush: Please flatten cartons and boxes or crush the plastic bottles and cans before placing them in your recycling bag. You will be able to fit much more in your bag, and the recycling truck will be able to carry more too. Cardboard boxes may be too large to fit comfortably inside your recycling bag so please place the folded boxes next to your bins when you take them out.

3. Recycle: This is the easy part! Just toss the recyclables in your recycling bag and take the bag out with your other rubbish bag as normal. Because the recycling bags are different to normal black rubbish bags we will be able to easily differentiate between recyclable and non recyclable waste when we come to collect it.

What can be recycled?

PAPER: Old letters, Computer paper, Envelopes, Books, Coloured paper (invoices, etc.), Newspapers, Magazines,
Cardboard
GLASS: Bottles and jars – rinse and remove the lid (which can also be recycled)
PLASTIC: Anything with the recycling logo regardless of number as well as any bags, bottles, tubs, coat hangers, lids and tops, containers, sweet wrappers and chip packets.
METALS: Cans, Coat hangers, Lids and Tops, Aluminium foil and any Solid metal items.
TETRAPAK: Foil lined cartons and containers mainly from Juice and Milk.
POLYSTYRENE (Styrofoam): Food trays and Packing foam.

What cannot be recycled – No Thanks

PAPER: Paper cups and plates, Blueprint paper,Cigarette ends, Carbon paper, Waxed cartons
GLASS: Broken Windows/Windscreens/Mirrors, Glass kitchenware, Light bulbs, Crystal.
PLASTIC: Disposable nappies.
METALS: Electrical appliances, Batteries, Needles, Aerosol cans or Paint tins.
ORGANIC WASTE: Food scraps, Garden waste, Vegetable peelings, Wood.
TEXTILES: Old clothing, Shoes, Furniture.
OTHER: Any overly dirty or contaminated items.

Why Recycle?

PROBLEM: Considerable amounts of raw materials and energy are used in the production of consumables and packaging that we create in massive quantities to support our lifestyle. The effect that this is having on the environment and the earth’s resources is well documented as we all know about greenhouse gasses, global warming, and the depletion of natural resources.

SOLUTION: Through the process of taking recyclable materials that would otherwise be considered waste and turning them back into raw materials, the consumption of both ”virgin” raw materials and energy is greatly reduced, and hence also greenhouse gas emissions. Recycling is a key concept of modern waste management as it usually requires significantly less energy, water and other precious resources to recycle materials than to produce new materials

PROBLEM: In Cape Town we are running out of landfill (dumping) space at an alarming rate. We currently dump approximately 6 000 tons of waste every day. As an example, 1 ton of waste will fill up a standard 3m x 2m room right up to the roof. So imagine 6000 of these rooms being filled with waste every single day.At the current rate we only have enough landfill space for the next 3 years. By the time the last landfill site closes down; we will be building mountains of waste equivalent to 6000 rooms per day.

SOLUTION: By separating the recyclable material from the rest of the waste we will be greatly reducing the amount of dumped materials filling up our landfills. Countries such as the Netherlands which have highly developed recycling practices in place are recycling up to 90% of their total waste where as others such as Australia and Brazil with relatively young recycling programs are saving up to 50% of their recyclable waste. In South Africa less than 20% of our recyclable waste is actually recycled because until now effective systems of sustainable waste management have not been in place. The rest of the world is doing it why aren't we?
It is the right thing to do!