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Celebrating Global Recycling Day!
Global Recycling Day, celebrated annually on March 18th, raises awareness of recycling’s role in preserving resources. Established by the Global Recycling Foundation, it emphasises waste reduction, energy conservation, and job creation. This day serves as a reminder that simple actions, such as proper waste sorting and supporting sustainability efforts, contribute to a healthier planet. Learn more about this global initiative here.
Small Actions You Can Do
- Start with education! Learn from your local collector about what can and can’t be recycled, or watch our free educational video series.
- Purchase Responsibly! When possible, always use re-usable packaging. Otherwise, always choose recyclable materials over single-use options whenever possible.
Set up separate bins! Keep recyclables, food waste, and general waste sorted at home, work, or school.
So How Do We Contribute?
At Plant the Seed, Global Recycling Day is more than just a date on the calendar—it represents the heart of our mission. Since 2022, we have been committed to driving real change in waste management, believing that small actions drive big impact. Having seen many schools’ recycling systems fail after COVID-19, we embarked on a journey into setting these up ourselves, but with a different twist.
Starting out, we wanted to make it more about people – centring them at the core of our Zero Waste Toolkit solution. Being in schools brings an obvious focus on the youth. Still, it has also provided us with opportunities to engage with educators and staff to make recycling a bit more of a fixture in the school ethos and culture.
Reflecting on this Global Recycling Day
As we celebrate Global Recycling Day, we reflect on the incredible milestones we’ve achieved with our 22 Zero Waste Champions in 4 provinces, from schools to businesses:
- 1,163 separation-at-source bins implemented across various spaces, ensuring waste is correctly sorted at the source.
- 143,080 kgs of food and recyclable waste successfully diverted from landfills, reducing environmental harm.
- 24,800 learners, 1,315 teachers, and 346 grounds & cleaning staff trained and inspired to take meaningful action in their schools and communities.
- 1071 participants engaged in circular economy workshops and outings, deepening their understanding of sustainability and innovative waste solutions.
- 19 lesson plans distributed to 22 schools designed to advance understanding of waste and our impact on the environment.
- 2 incredible sponsorships to implement the Zero Waste Toolkit throughout South Africa. Special thank you to MetPac-SA and Safripol.
Why This Matters for South Africa
South Africa faces a pressing waste crisis—our landfills are rapidly reaching capacity, and recycling rates remain low compared to global standards.
While the red-yellow-blue bin system seems simple, proper waste separation at the source significantly impacts the later stages of waste chain. It improves and aids transport, sorting, and processing of the discarded waste. This redefines what ultimately ends up in landfill, with our intervention aimed at minimising this as much as possible.
More Than Just Waste: A Social and Economic Impact
Beyond waste reduction, our interventions create both social and economic impact. By providing schools, businesses, and communities with the right tools and knowledge, we empower them to take charge of sustainability.
Additionally, we connect schools with SMME collectors, ensuring they can sustain their businesses through regular waste collection and processing. We see every collection partner as an extension of the Plant the Seed family, and our interventions would not be possible without them.
Most importantly, the biggest change happens in the people we work with. When a learner or teacher has that lightbulb moment, we know we’re on the right path. After all, better understanding leads to better actions.
Be our next Champion and make a difference socially and environmentally with the Zero Waste Toolkit. For more information about how to start recycling, please contact Thomas@planttheseed.co.za.