ENGINEERING NEWS 23 Jan 2009 Page 12

Hassle-Free Recycling

GLASS RECYCLING Waste-glass recovery to increase this year DENNIS NDABA I SENIOR STAFF WRITER The Glass Recycling Company, which since its inception in 2006, has seen the volumes of waste glass recovered increase from 148 000 t/y to more than 204 000 t/y, predicts it will have recovered 251 000 t/y of nonreturnable glass by the end of June. The Glass Recycling Company GM Shabeer Jhetam says that the current economic pressures have made people more conscious of the fact that there are income-generating opportunities in collecting glass. "Waste glass collection as a potential source of income has boosted the growth of the entrepreneur and collector market," says Jhetam. More than 80% of these entrepreneurs are historically dis-advantaged South Africans. He adds that for glass recycling to flourish, it must be made as simple, easy and hassle-free as possible. The Glass Recycling Company believes that having more glass banks installed at easily accessible locations around the country will remove the barriers to entry and assist in the achievement of this aim. Considering that South Africans have not grown up with SHABEER JHETAM South Africans' buy-in is important a recycling culture, unlike people in countries like the UK, the US and the Netherlands, where recycling levels are far higher, converting them into avid, active recyclers is a challenging, long-term process, says Jhetam. "The buy-in of all South Africans into glass recycling is important, but support from shopping centre owners, the hospitality industry and local government is equally significant. To encourage glass recycling, businesses, shopping centres and other retail outlets, including ser- vice stations, need to allow for adequate facilities, which are easily accessible, clean and safe." Jhetam adds that building new shopping centres with glass recycling depots should become mandatory and that residential housing estates, restaurants and bars should have glass recycling bins. "Increasing our national footprint in the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpuma-langa and the North West is our primary objective." ENGINEERING NEWS COUPON ON PAGE 52 E150615