User guide helps to simplify recycling

A user-friendly guide to recycling has been launched to help promote recycling in homes, schools and workplaces. 

The series of booklets aims to highlight the environment benefits and the income generating opportunities presented by recycling initiatives.

Polyco Plastics Responsibility Organisation (PRO) NPC launched its Million+ ‘How to Recycle’ series in recognition of Global Recycling Day. The booklets include content that guides users on recycling best practices, whether at home, work or school.  

“Our new How to Recycle series is an extension of our Million+ initiative, aimed at mobilising more than one-million South Africans to recycle their used plastic packaging,” says Polyco brand manager Nicola Rowe. “A large-scale shift in consumer awareness and action towards recycling will not only eradicate plastic waste in the environment, but it will also lead to many tonnes of used plastic packaging being diverted from landfill to be economically repurposed in the recycling value chain.” 

Polyco notes recent research into the South African plastic sector states that 461 500 t of plastic was collected for recycling in 2020. This resulted in 296 500 t of recyclate that was used instead of virgin raw material, as well as 52 100 income generating opportunities through plastic recycling campaigns. It highlights South Africa’s developing circular economy and asserts that material streams such as plastics offer numerous economic opportunities to derive value from waste, while saving raw materials and associated costs.

The How to Recycle series is available on Polyco’s Million+ website and features easy-to-navigate tabs and content sections that can guide the user according to selected recycling locations. “Understanding the potential of digital platforms, we opted to create an engaging website experience that can clearly guide you whether you would like to start recycling at home, work or school,” says Rowe.

“A website user will select their desired recycling location and be directed to the relevant guide. Each guide provides information on the benefits of recycling, where to start, what materials to recycle, and information on how to find collection services and nearest drop off points. We will also be developing this further in future.”