The Glass Recycling Company

ADVERTISING & PR 2006

PRESS RELEASE

29 11 2006 - Launch
08 12 2006 - Cape Argus
09 12 2006 - Witness Weekend
15 12 2006 - Sake Beeld
15 12 2006 - Sake Burger Kaap
15 12 2006 - Sake Burger Oos Kaap

SOUTH AFRICA LAGGING IN INTERNATIONAL GLASS RECYCLING STAKES

- Launch of The Glass Recycling Company Set to Change Glass Recycling - Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Despite being 100 recyclable, just 20 (140 000 tons) of all glass containers produced annually are retrieved for recycling in South Africa, which is relatively poor when compared to international rates. The recycling rate in the Netherlands is sitting at 90%; the Australian benchmark at 50%; the UK on 45 and Brazil is holding firm at 40%, which is a clear indication that something has to be done to dramatically improve this country's recovery and recycling of waste glass.

Government and industries' response is The Glass Recycling Company - South Africa's new national organisation responsible for facilitating the recovery of waste glass for recycling. The new model for glass recycling has the endorsement of the Ministry for Environmental Affairs and Tourism.

The Glass Recycling Company has effectively been born from a partnership between National Government, glass manufacturers, fillers (users of glass to package their products), and recyclers in its efforts to increase the recycling rate from 20 to 50 within the next five years. This in order to protect the environment and create income generation opportunities for historically disadvantaged South Africans in particular.

According to The Glass Recycling Company's general manager, Shabeer Jhetam, a man who comes from a recycling background, glass only accounts for 4.7 of the country's total waste and about 550 000 tons of waste glass finds its way into landfills in South Africa annually.

"Through The Glass Recycling Company we aim to minimise wastage of glass, and promote its sustainable recycling to protect our environment. Strategic imperatives include growth in glass recovery and recycling; job creation; environmental protection; prevention of detrimental legislation on glass packaging; and the creation of synergies with NGOs, CBOs and other organisations," adds Jhetam.

This non-profit organisation does not recycle the glass itself - rather it promotes and educates about the importance of the recovery of waste glass for recycling, linked to the need to protect the environment.

"We are aiming to have glass banks at strategic locations throughout the country commencing March 2007. The banks will facilitate the recovery of waste glass from urban consumers and city dwellers. On the other hand, there are opportunities for glass collection to yield an alternative income stream for the unemployed. In this instance, the collector of the cullet (waste glass) would be reimbursed for the recovery by a local dealer of waste glass, or by the more established entrepreneur," says Jhetam.

The Glass Recycling Company has a mandate to set up new entrepreneurs - throughout South Africa - who will pay for any waste glass that is brought to them for recycling.

"Our initial imperative is job creation in the formal and informal sectors. The Glass Recycling Company intends to set up at least 80 entrepreneurs annually, which in turn will see at least 4000 new informal jobs created annually. Conservatively there are already at least 100 existing entrepreneurs throughout the country who have already created in the region of 5 000 informal jobs through the collection of waste glass," says Jhetam.

But adds Jhetam, "Research shows that collectors will only recover glass for a period of about three months and thereafter they either find more formal employment or become involved in other forms of self-employment. This creates a huge challenge for The Glass Recycling Company and will in turn require the constant recruiting of new collectors by this non-profit company.

"For recycling to work, everyone has to participate in each phase of the process. We are therefore calling on the people of South Africa; corporates, churches, community organisations, schools and consumers of glass to help us by making recycling part of their daily routine. So don't bin it, bank it," urges Jhetam.

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Cape Argus - 8 December 2006

New recycling drive could make cut

Organisation aims to bring SA in line with other countries in retrieving waste glass

By JOHN YELD

Environment & Science Writer

South Africa's woeful record of glass recycling is set to improve dramatically, following the establishment of a new non-profit company to promote this environmentally friendly activity.

And local schools are already playing their part, with an increasing number joining a Western Cape schools' glass recycling competition that has run for the past three years.

Glass is 100 recyclable, but South Africa currently manages to retrieve just 20%, or 140 000 tons, of all glass containers for recycling.

A staggering 550 000 tons of waste glass still finds its way into landfills every year.

Many other countries have significantly better glass recycling rates: the Dutch for example, manage to recycle 90%; Australia 50%; Britain 45 and even Brazil manages an impressive 40%.

Now all the big players in the glass manufacturing industry, the national government, fillers (users of glass to package their products) and recyclers have joined forces to create The Glass Recycling Company, a new national non-profit organization that will facilitate the recovery of waste glass - known as cullet - for recycling.

It has set a target of increasing the recycling rate from 20 to 50 within the next five years.

The company itself will not recycle glass, but will concentrate on promoting recycling through private entrepreneurs and driving education programmes to explain the importance of recovering waste glass for recycling and its links to protecting the environment.

Shabeer Jhetam, who has a recycling background, has been appointed manager of the new company.

One of the company's aims is to set up more glass banks at strategic locations throughout the country, starting in March next year.

But it also has a particular mandate to set up new entrepreneurs throughout South Africa, who will pay collectors for any cullet brought to them for recycling.

"Our initial imperative is job creation in the formal and informal sectors," explains Jhetam.

"We intend to set up at least 80 entrepreneurs annually, which in turn will see at least 4 000 new informal jobs created every year."

"Conservatively, there are already at least 100 existing entrepreneurs throughout the country who have already created in the region of 5 000 informal jobs through the collection of waste glass."

Jhetam acknowledges a particular problem: research shows that collectors will only recover glass for about three months before either finding more formal employment or becoming involved in other forms of self-employment.

"This creates a huge challenge for The Glass Recycling Company and will in turn require the recruiting of new collectors by this non-profit company," he says.

"For recycling to work, everyone has to participate in each phase of the process. We are therefore calling on the people of South Africa - corporates, religious organizations, community organizations, schools and consumers of glass - to help us by making recycling part of their daily routine. So don't bin it, bank it!"

Locally, manufacturing giant Consol Glass has been sponsoring a school's glass recycling project for the past three years.

It started as a pilot project in Mitchell's Plain in 2004, when 10 schools collected more than 20 tons of glass, or more than 50 000 bottles, earning themselves R5 158 in the process.

Last year, the Fairest Cape Association was brought on board and the project was expanded to 45 schools from Nyanga, Mitchell's Plain, Grassy Park, Bonteheuwel and Elsies River, who collected more than 90 tons.

This year, 71 schools took part and between March and October managed to collect 135 tons of glass, earning R25 635 for their school funds.

"The 2006 schools winner was Dorothea Primary from Stellenbosch, who collected an impressive 9 880kg, or 39.21kg per pupil," said Consol representation David Raj.

Next year 120 schools will be taking part.

"Our objective is to be at all schools by 2010," said Raj.

· See http://www.theglassRecyclingCompany.co.za

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Sake Beeld - 15 December 2006

Glasherwinning 'n kans vir ondernemers

Firma wil SA se huidige herbenutting van 20 opstoot tot 50%

Nellie Brand

KAAPSTAD - Nagenoeg 4 000 werkgeleenthede per jaar gaan na verwagting geskep word as die eerste formele bedryfsinisiatief om afvalglas te herwin en Suid-Afrika se herwinningskoers van 20 van die totale hoeveelheid herwinbare glas tot 50 te verhoog, suksesvol is.

Suid-Afrika herwin tans ’n skrale 20%, of 140 000 ton, van die herwinbare glashouers in die land - betreklik swak vergeleke met ander lande. In Nederland is die herwinningskoers 90%, in Australië 50%, Brittanje 45 en Brasilië40%. Suid-Afrika se lae herwinningskoers het bedryfsleiers in vervaardiging en verpakking byeengebring om die herwinningskoers drasties te verbeter.

Van die voorste wyn- en drank-maatskappye neem deel, insluitend SAB, KWV, Distell DGB en Diageo Suid-Afrika. Aandeelhouers sluit ook in die twee glasvervaardigers Consol en Nampak Wiegand Glass, wat die glas gaan koop en heraanwend. Nog aandeelhouers is Nestlé, Paarlvallei Bottelering Maatskappy, Coca-Cola Fortune, Coca-Cola South Africa, Peninsula Beverage Company, Scarlet Ibis Investment 3, Tiger Brands, Appeltiser SA, Breëriviervallei Bottelerings-koöperasie Beperk, Ceres Fruit Juices, Edward Snell and Company en The Company of Wine People.

Volgens mnr. Shabeer Jhetam, hoof van die maatskappy sonder winsbejag wat gestig is, The Glass Recycling Company, is dit die eerste formele bedryfsinisiatief hoewel glasherwinning al geruime tyd in die land plaasvind.

Dit word in samewerking met die regering gedoen.

Jhetam, voorheen van Collect-a-Can, het gesê vergeleke met die herwinning ban blikkies, is daar baie meer bedryfspelers wat betrokke gemaak moes word. Dié spelers wou dit 'n bedryfsinisiatief maak eerder as dat ongewenste wetgewing deur die regering afgedwing word soos in die plastieksakbedryf gesien is.

Volgens Jhetam gaan die aktiwiteite van The Glass Recycling Company gefinansier word deur 'n jaarlikse heffing wat die verpakkeraandeelhouers vrywillig sal betaal op elke ton glas wat hulle aankoop. In die eerste boekjaar sal nagenoeg R14 miljoen ingesamel word.

Sowat 90 van die maatskappye wat hul produkte in glas verpak, is by die inisiatief betrokke.

Jhetam sê die kernfunksie van The Glass Recycling Company sal die fasilitering van herwinning wees. Volgens hom gaan hulle ook vir bemarking en bewusmaking verantwoordelik wees - iets wat nooit voorheen oor glasherwinning gedoen is nie. Die bewusmaking gaan insluit om werklosse in te lig dat afvalglas 'n waarde het om sodoende meer insameling te verseker.

Jhetam het gesê hul gaan ook meer afvaldromme vir glas, of glasbanke, versprei en meer toeganklik maak vir verbruikers. Tot Junie volgende jaar gaan 550 glasbanke landwyd versprei word. Die daaropvolgende jare gaan jaarliks 1 000 glasbanke versprei word. Verbruikers sal op The Glass Recycling Company se webtuiste inligting kan kry oor waar dié glasbanke in hul woongebiede is.

Volgens Jhetam word sowat 700 000 ton glas jaarliks in die land vervaardig en beland 550 000 ton afvalglas jaarliks op afvalterreine. Dit is sowat 4,7 van die land se totale afval.

Werkgeleenthede gaan geskep word deur aan werkloses die geleentheid te gee om glasafval in te samel en daarvoor verged te word deur ’n plaaslike glasafvalhandelaar. Die onderneming het die mandaat om landwyd handelaars aan te stel wat versamelaars vir die glasafval sal betaal. Die onderneming gaan jaarliks aan sowat 80 entrepreneurs ’n geleentheid bied om betrokke te raak. Dit sal nagenoeg 4 000 nuwe werkeleentehede per jaar skep omdat elke handelaar sowat 50 glasinsamelaars betrokke gaan maak.

Volgens Jhetam is die glasvervaardigers bereid om dieselfe prys vir die afvalglas te betaal as wat vir die grondstowwe betaal word wwarvan glas vervaardig word. "'n Versamelaar sal ’n bestaan kan maak," het hy gesê.

Nog inligting is te kry by www.theglassRecycling Company.co.za.

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Sake Burger (Kaap) - 15 December 2006

Glasherwinning 'n kans vir ondernemers

Firma wil SA se huidige herbenutting van 20 opstoot tot 50%

Nellie Brand

Suid-Afrika herwin tans 'n skrale 20%, of 140 000 ton, van die herwinbare glashouers in die land - betreklik swak vergeleke met ander lande. In Nederland is die herwinningskoers 90%, in Australië 50%, Brittanje 45 en Brasilië 40%. Suid-Afrika se lae herwinningskoers het bedryfsleiers in vervaardiging en verpakking byeengebring om die herwinningskoers drasties te verbeter.

Dit word in samewerking met die regering gedoen.

Sowat 90 van die maatskappye wat hul produkte in glas verpak, is by die inisiatief betrokke.

Volgens Jhetam word sowat 700 000 ton glas jaarliks in die land vervaardig en beland 550 000 ton afvalglas jaarliks op afvalterreine. Dit is sowat 4,7 van die land se totale afval.

Werkgeleenthede gaan geskep word deur aan werkloses die geleentheid te gee om glasafval in te samel en daarvoor vergoed te word deur 'n plaaslike glasafvalhandelaar. Die onderneming het die mandaat om landwyd handelaars aan te stel wat versamelaars vir die glasafval sal betaal. Die onderneming gaan jaarliks aan sowat 80 entrepreneurs 'n geleentheid bied om betrokke te raak. Dit sal nagenoeg 4 000 nuwe werkgeleenthede per jaar skep omdat elke handelaar sowat 50 glasinsamelaars betrokke gaan maak.

Volgens Jhetam is die glasvervaardigers bereid om dieselfe prys vir die afvalglas te betaal as wat vir die grondstowwe betaal word waarvan glas vervaardig word. "'n Versamelaar sal ’n bestaan kan maak," het hy gesê.

Nog inligting is te kry by http://www.theglassRecyclingCompany.co.za

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Sake Burger (Oos Kaap) - 15 December 2006

Glasherwinning 'n kans vir ondernemers

Firma wil SA se huidige herbenutting van 20 opstoot tot 50%

Nellie Brand

Suid-Afrika herwin tans 'n skrale 20 of 140 000 ton van die herwinbare glashouers in die land - betreklik swak vergeleke met ander lande. In Nederland is die herwinningskoers 90%, in Australië 50%, Brittanje 45 en Brasilië 40%. Suid-Afrika se lae herwinningskoers het bedryfsleiers in vervaardiging en verpakking byeengebring om die herwinningskoers drasties te verbeter.

Van die voorste wyn- en drankmaatskappye neem deel, insluitend SAB, KWV, Distell DGB en Diageo Suid-Afrika. Aandeelhouers sluit ook in die twee glasvervaardigers Consol en Nampak Wiegand Glass, wat die glas gaan koop en heraanwend. Nog aandeelhouers is Nestlé, Paarlvallei Bottelering Maatskappy, Coca-Cola Fortune, Coca-Cola South Africa, Peninsula Beverage Company, Scarlet Ibis Investment 3, Tiger Brands, Appeltiser SA, Breëriviervallei Bottelerings-koöperasie Beperk, Ceres Fruit Juices, Edward Snell and Company en The Company of Wine People.

Dit word in samewerking met die regering gedoen.

Jhetam, voorheen van Collect-a-Can, het gesê vergeleke met die herwinning van blikkies, is daar baie meer bedryfspelers wat betrokke gemaak moes word. Dié spelers wou dit 'n bedryfsinisiatief maak eerder as dat ongewenste wetgewing deur die regering afgedwing word soos in die plastieksakbedryf gesien is.

Volgens Jhetam gaan die aktiwiteite van The Glass Recycling Company gefinansier word deur ’n jaarlikse heffing wat die verpakkeraandeelhouers vrywillig sal betaal op elke ton glas wat hulle aankoop. In die eerste boekjaar sal nagenoeg R14 miljoen ingesamel word.

Sowat 90 van die maatskappye wat hul produkte in glas verpak, is by die inisiatief betrokke.

Volgens Jhetam word sowat 700 000 ton glas jaarliks in die land vervaardig en beland 550 000 ton afvalglas jaarliks op afvalterreine. Dit is sowat 4,7 van die land se totale afval.

Werkgeleenthede gaan geskep word deur aan werkloses die geleentheid te gee om glasafval in te samel en daarvoor vergoed te word deur 'n plaaslike glasafvalhandelaar. Die onderneming het die mandaat om landwyd handelaars aan te stel wat versamelaars vir die glasafval sal betaal. Die onderneming gaan jaarliks aan sowat 80 entrepreneurs ’n geleentheid bied om betrokke te raak. Dit sal nagenoeg 4 000 nuwe werkgeleentehede per jaar skep omdat elke handelaar sowat 50 glasinsamelaars betrokke gaan maak.

Nog inligting is te kry by http://www.theglassRecyclingCompany.co.za

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Witness Weekend, Leisure - 9 December 2006

Glass recycling manager

talks about his role managing a glass recycling company

SHABEER JHETAM

What is your career?

After completing my B.Com (Hons) degree, I was appointed at Iscor as a marketing trainee. Thereafter, I held numerous management positions within the company in my 13-year term at Iscor. I then joined Collect-a-Can as group commercial and marketing manager where I spent four years. Last year I was appointed as general manager to head The Glass Recycling Company.

What does a typical working day entail?

I get up at 5 am and I plan the day and arrive at the office by 7 am. The day is characterised by strategic decision-making, as well as numerous meetings with various stakeholders in the interests of achieving the objectives of The Glass Recycling Company.

I normally get home after 5 pm and spend time in the garden, relax and spend quality time with my wife.

What led you to choose this career path?

I always wanted to get into an industry where I could aspire to and reach for the top; all the while positively affecting other people's lives.

Where did you study and what qualifications did you obtain?

I studied at the then University of Natal where I obtained a B.Com (Hons) degree. I also studied at Pretoria University where I read for an ES Log degree (European senior logistician).

What qualities and special requirements are needed for your specific career?

Self-confidence, commitment, tenacity and dedication.

What steps led you to where you are now?

The various management positions I held during my career - all of which equipped me with the necessary experience to see me land this amazing opportunity.

What has contributed to your success?

Learning from my mentors, dedication and hard work.

What is the most stimulating part of your job?

Protecting the environment by facilitating the recovery of waste glass for recycling, while simultaneously helping create thousands of informal jobs for unemployed glass collectors.

What don't you enjoy about your job?

There is nothing I don't enjoy about my position.

What are your future plans?

To make The Glass Recycling Company a national institution and increase the recycling of glass from 21 to 50 within the next five years.

What would your advice be to people wishing to pursue a career such as yours?

Work hard at school in order to gain university entry. Work towards securing a business degree and go on to give your best when you enter the corporate world.

What are the prospects for people once qualified in this field?

The world is your oyster. With a business degree like B.Com, a career in finance, marketing, administration, and human resources are some of the options to consider.

What opportunities are there for furthering your career?

My primary focus is to turn around glass recycling in South Africa.

If you were given the opportunity to choose a different career what would it be?

That's easy - the medical profession. My father and his brothers are all medical doctors, so there was always a doctor in the house. Times haven't changed all that much because I am now married to a doctor - a critical care specialist to be exact.

I am always moved and impressed by how much she does for others and it gives me great joy to hear that she has helped save a patient's life.

What are your hobbies and interests?

Gardening, collecting koi fish, nature and motorsport.

· Contact details: 011 803 0767 or email sjhetam@theglassRecycling Company.co.za

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