The Glass Recycling Company

ADVERTISING & PR 2007

PRESS RELEASE

http://www.biz-community.com/ - 20 January 2007

Should glass recovery and recycling be a retailer imperative?

The Glass Recycling Company is South Africa's new national organisation responsible for facilitating the recovery of waste glass for recycling, endorsed by the Ministry for Environmental Affairs and Tourism. Whether retailers and stockists of glass, and products in glass, should be supporting the initiative, is a question that begs answering.

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.

Partnership

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. The aim is to protect the environment and create income generation opportunities for historically disadvantaged South Africans in particular.

According to The Glass Recycling Company's GM, Shabeer Jhetam, a man who comes from a recycling background, for recycling to be a success, everyone has to participate in each phase of the process. He adds that the FMCG retailer market is not exempt from this and stresses that it has a huge role to play in helping with the recycling drive.

Jhetam cites glass bank placement at shopping centres and becoming a member of The Glass Recycling Company as the most immediate ways in which retailers can play a role.

"By lobbying on our behalf with landlords of shopping centres for placements, retailers can help us with the development of our collection footprint. Of course by becoming a member of The Glass Recycling Company and paying the incumbent levies, retailers are giving back to the community through good corporate citizenship and have the opportunity to offer strategic support to the company," says Jhetam.

"Further to this, we are calling for all importers of glass to declare these volumes. This glass will automatically be included in our recycling quotas and to this end we need to secure levies to cover the cost of our recovery efforts."

Promotes and educates

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.

"Environmental protection and ecotourism is the responsibility of every citizen and by recycling glass; energy, water and other non-renewable natural resources are preserved. By way of example: the energy saving from recycling one bottle will power a 100 watt light bulb for almost an hour; a washing machine for 10 minutes; a TV for 20 minutes and a computer for 25 minutes. Added to this, glass is infinitely recyclable and does not affect the quality or integrity of the new product," explains Jhetam.

"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 create synergies with NGOs, CBOs and other organisations," adds Jhetam.

"We are aiming to have additional 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.

Set up entrepreneurs

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 5000 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.

"We are therefore calling on retailers (large and small), corporates, religious and community organisations, schools and consumers of glass to help us by making recycling part of their daily routine," concludes Jhetam.

For more info, go to http://www.theglassRecyclingCompany.co.za.

The Glass Recycling Company shareholders - all from the glass industry - include:

Consol
Nampak Wiegand Glass
KWV SA
Nestlé
Paarlvallei Bottelering Maatskappy
Coca-Cola Fortune
Coca-Cola South Africa
Peninsula Beverage Company
Scarlet Ibis Investment 3
Diageo South Africa
Distell Limited
South African Breweries (SAB)
Tiger Brands Limited
Appeltiser SA
Breëriviervallei Bottelerings Koöperasie Beperk
Ceres Fruit Juices
DGB Limited
Edward Snell and Company Limited and
The Company of Wine People

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Finweek - 11 Januarie 2007 - Afrikaans

Glashelder geleenthede

SA Herwin slegs 20%, teenoor Nederland se 90%

Sowat 20 SA maatskappye, sommige van hulle mededingers, het saamgespan om 'n nuwe maatskappy te stig vir die herwinning en hergebruik van afvalglas.

Van die aandeelhouers in The Glass Recycling Company is Tiger Brands, Nampak en Consol, KWV, Distell, SA Brouerye en Coca-Cola, Nestlé, Ceres en Appletiser.

"Die maatskappy is 'n vennootskap tussen glasvervaardigers, dié wat hul produkte in glas verpak, herwinnaars en die regering," sê Shabeer Jhetam, hoofbestuurder. "Ons wil binne die volgende vyf jaar SA se lae herwinningskoers van 20 tot 50 opstoot."

Volgens Jhetam kom die maatskappy se herwinningsplanne op drie vlieë met een klap neer: dit beskerm die omgewing omdat baie minder afval gestort word, dit is energiebesparend en dit skep werkgeleenthede.

"Ondanks glas se herwinningpotensiaal van 100 word slegs 20 herwin," sê Jhetam. "Daarteenoor is die herwinningskoers 90 in Nederland, 50 in Australië en 40 in Brasilië. In SA beland sowat 550 000 ton afvalglas jaarliks op opvulterreine."

Die energiebesparing is ook aanloklik. "Die energie wat bespaar word deur die herwinning van slegs een bottel kan byvoorbeeld 'n 100 W-gloeilamp vir byna een uur laat brand, ’n wasmasjien vir 10 minute laat werk en 'n TV vir 20 minute of Ã†n rekenaar vir 25 minute aandryf."

"Werkskepping is een van die belangrikste motiveringsredes," sê Jhetam. "Die versameling van afvalglas is 'n ekstra inkomstestroom vir werkloses. Dié word deur 'n verwerker of selfs entrepreneurs daarvoor vergoed."

Die eerste mikpunt is om jaarliks minstens 80 nuwe entrepreneurs te vestig, wat gesamentlik vir minstens 4 000 nuwe informele werkgeleenthede sal sorg. "Ongelukkig bestee diegene wat die afvalglas bymekaar maak volgens navorsing net sowat drie maande daaraan voordat hulle êrens formeel in diens geneem word of ander vorms van selfindiensneming vind. Dit sal dus 'n reuse-uitdaging vir The Glass Recycling Company wees om deurlopend nuwe medewerkers te kry."

JOHANN VAN ZYL

johannv@finweek.co.z

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Finweek - 11 January 2007 - English

Companies board the glass train

SA recycles only 20%, compared with 90 in the Netherlands

About 20 well-known South African companies, some of them competitors, have joined forces to form a new company to recycle and reuse waste glass. Shareholders of The Glass Recycling Company include Tiger Brands, Nampak and Consol, KWV, Distell, SA Breweries, Coca-Cola, Nestlé, Ceres and Appletiser.

"The Company is a partnership between glass manufacturers - those who use glass as a container for their products - recycling firms and Government," say GM Shabeer Jhetam. "We want to push SA's low recycling rate up from 20 to 50 within five years."

Jhetam says the company's recycling plans amount to killing three birds with one stone: protecting the environment (because much less waste is dumped), saving energy and job creation.

"Despite the 100 recycling potential of glass, only about 20 is recycled," Jhetam says. "Compare that with the recycling rates of 90 in the Netherlands, 50 in Australia and 40 in Brazil. In SA, about 550 000 tons of waste glass ends up in landfills every year."

The saving of energy is also important. "For example, the energy saved by recycling just a single bottle is enough to keep a 100W globe burning for nearly an hour, run a washing machine for 10 minutes, a TV for 20 minutes or a computer for 25 minutes."

However, job creation is one of the most important motivations, Jhetam says. "The collection of waste glass provides an extra income for unemployed people. They're paid for it by a local processor or even by entrepreneurs."

The first target is to establish at least 80 new entrepreneurs each year, which will provide at least 4 000 new informal jobs/year. "Unfortunately, research shows that those who collect waste glass only spend about three months doing so before they find formal employment elsewhere or find some other form of self-employment. It will be a massive challenge for The Glass Recycling Company to obtain new workers on an ongoing basis."

The success of the new company also holds financial benefits for its shareholders, in addition to the contribution to protecting SA's environment and job creation. And they need not be concerned about quality: recycled glass is just as good as when it was first smelted.

JOHANN VAN ZYL

johannv@finweek.co.za

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Update - January 2007

Recycle your glass and help make a difference

Launch of The Glass Recycling Company Set to Change Environmental Ecotourism

Did you know that if you recycle one glass bottle the energy saving will power a 100 watt light bulb for almost an hour; a washing machine for 10 minutes; a TV for 20 minutes and a computer for 25 minutes. Environmental protection and ecotourism is the responsibility of every citizen and by recycling glass, energy, water and other non-renewable natural resources are preserved.

Despite being 100 recyclable, just 205 (140 000 tons) of all glass containers produced annually are retrieved for recycling in South Africa - a clear indication that something has to be done to dramatically improve our recovery and recycling of waste glass. Industries' response is The Glass Recycling Company - South Africa's new national organization responsible for facilitating the recovery of cullet (waste glass) for recycling.

The Glass Recycling Company aims to minimise wastage of glass and promote sustainable recycling. This non-profit organisation does not recycle the glass itself - rather it promotes and educates about the importance of the recovery of cullet for recycling, linked to the need to protect the environment. Capacity building and putting the necessary infrastructure in place is intended to make glass recovery possible and that much simpler.

Additional glass banks will be installed at strategic locations throughout the country commencing March 2007. The banks will facilitate the recovery of cullet from urban and city dwellers. The Glass Recycling Company is calling on the people of South Africa; corporates, religious institutions, community organisations, schools and consumers of glass to help by making recycling part of their daily routine.

Visit http://www.theglassRecyclingCompany.co.za for further information.

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Longevity - 1 March 2007

Glass smart

Most South Africans seem to think they're immune to the effects of global warming, overpopulation and excessive human consumption but the reality is that, sooner or later, if everyone doesn't contribute to preserving the globe, the earth we take for granted will be severely altered. Recycling glass is just one way you can keep your conscience clear.

According to a new South Africa initiative, The Glass Recycling Company, "By recycling glass; energy, water and other non-renewable natural resources are preserved. If you recycle one glass bottle the energy saving will power a 100 watt light bulb for almost an hour; a washing machine to 10 minutes; a TV for 20 minutes and a computer for 25 minutes."

For further information on where the first glass banks will be located visit http://www.theglassRecyclingCompany.co.za .

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Cape Argus

Glass recycling project set to save energy

By Maureen Marud, Consumer Editor

Every time you put glass in a recycling bin, you save energy, say the organizers of a glass recycling campaign.

"The energy-saving from recycling one glass bottle will power a 100 Watt light bulb for nearly an hour, a washing machine for 10 minutes, a TV for 20 minutes and a computer for 25 minutes," said Shabeer Jhetam, managing director of The Glass Recycling Company, set up by the glass industry.

He said the company did not recycle glass but promoted and educated the public about the importance of the recovery of waste glass for recycling.

Glass is 100 recyclable, but just 20 or 140 000 tons of all glass containers produced annually were retrieved for recycling, said Jhetam.

Glass banks will be installed throughout the country from next month.

The banks will create opportunities for informal job creation as collectors will be reimbursed.

For further information on where the first glass banks will be located, visit: http://www.theglassRecyclingCompany.co.za

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South African Pharmaceutical & Cosmetic Review (pg5) - 1 Feb 2007

As the mercury rises

The world is finally waking up to the reality of global warming and climate change. If media reports and footage like that shown in Al Gore's An Inconvenient truth weren't enough to convince the sceptics, then the commitment of big business and heads of state demonstrated recently at Davos in Switzerland should have helped bring home the message that the plight of the environment can no longer be ignored.

Assuming that stats are accurate, Africans could be forgiven for having a somewhat clearer conscience than that of Americans, whose "carbon footprint" is deemed the largest worldwide - an indication of their sizeable contribution to the factors that raise the earth's temperature and thus promote climate change. But, regardless of the location of the main perpetrators, every man and beast on the planet is going to have to deal with the consequences of these changes. We're already seeing unusual rainfall patterns in certain parts of Southern Africa; other regions are experiencing un-seasonal droughts or unprecedented heat waves. Worsening malaria epidemics are being attributed largely to the fact that previously cool areas in high-lying regions are now becoming progressively warmer and therefore more hospitable to the Anopheles mosquito and its breeding cycle.

If any significant or lasting changes are to be made by the human race to curb this trend, it's going to require the combined efforts of both the public and private sectors, manufacturers and consumers alike - people in all walks of life. In South Africa and other developing countries where mere survival is often the top priority of a large segment of the population, where do we start with the green initiative? Do we focus on the cost-cutting advantages of sustainable development and recycling? Do we wait for regulators to start laying down the law, in the form of the long awaited Waste Bill for instance? The local packaging industry has certainly taken the bull by the horns and is setting some good examples, with PETCO and The Glass Recycling Company recently joining the ranks of well-established organisations like Collect-A-Can.

As yet in SA we have no formal restrictions on the use of hazardous chemicals such as those imposed by REACH in Europe, but there's no doubt that we'll feel the impact of such initiatives before long, certainly on the export front. There is a slow but steady growth in the number of "green" C&T ranges on the local market, with the burgeoning Enchantrix range in the spotlight in this month's Environmental Focus. Pick ’n Pay has chosen to stock this brand on its shelves, along with its own limited range of eco-friendly household products, and no doubt other retailers will follow suit.

Changing the consumer's perceptions and habits is probably one of the biggest hurdles in the fight against global warming and the destruction of the environment. But it's not an easy task, as experienced in particular by the aerosol sector with the never-ending CFC debacle. Mike Naude, executive director of the Aerosol Manufacturers' Association of SA (AMA), refers to a recent survey conducted by CAPCO, the aerosol-promotion arm of the aerosol association in the US. After 14 years of targeting the environmental science departments of schools throughout America, providing them with information kits, prizes and personal visits by committee members, CAPCO discovered that nearly 75 of the science teachers surveyed still viewed aerosols negatively in terms of their potential impact on global warming - despite the fact that the use of CFCs in aerosols has been banned for over a decade. With this shocking revelation in mind, the AMA's executive committee is working hard to establish what can be done in the local context to ensure aerosols receive the good press they deserve.

What are the rest of us doing to secure our livelihood in the years to come? What are we teaching our staff, our children? What are the potential risks or rewards of taking action now? And are we brave enough to face the consequences if we choose to take no action at all? Suddenly the room feels a little warmer, doesn't it?

(For more information on climate change visit www.climatecrisis.net).

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Wine Magazine (pg 83) - 1 Feb 2007

The Glass is Half Empty

The next time you discard your empty wine bottle after an enjoyable meal, spare a thought for what happens to it, and how it impacts on the environment. While it seems South Africa is lagging behind compared to other countries when it comes to glass recycling, a new initiative is hoping to change this.

Currently only 20 (140 000 tons) of all glass containers produced annually are retrieved for recycling in South Africa, which is poor compared to the Netherlands with their recycling rate of 90%, while Australia is at 50%, the UK at 45 and Brazil at 40%.

The Glass Recycling Company is South Africa's new national organisation responsible for facilitating the recovery of waste glass for recycling. It is endorsed by the Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. The Glass Recycling Company is a partnership between national government, glass manufacturers, fillers (users of glass to package their products), and recyclers in an effort to increase the recycling rate from 20 to 50 in the next five years.

This not only goes a long way in protecting the environment but provides income generating opportunities for historically disadvantaged South Africans. While it does not recycle glass itself, this non-profit organisation promotes the importance of the recovery of waste glass.

Additional glass banks will be established at strategic locations around the country, while many jobs will be created in the formal and informal areas through the reimbursement and collection of recovered glass. "So don't bin it, bank it!" urges Shabeer Jhetam, general manager of The Glass Recycling Company.

For more information on how to get involved, visit www.theglassRecycling Company.co.za

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Community News - 1 March 2007

GET CASH FOR GLASS

Window of Opportunity to make money with Launch of The Glass Recycling Company

The Glass Recycling Company - South Africa's new national non-profit organization responsible for the recovery of waste glass (cullet) for recycling - is giving the unemployed and historically disadvantaged the opportunity to earn cash for recycling glass.

The collector of the waste glass is reimbursed for the recovery of glass by a local dealer of waste glass (scrap dealer), or by the more established entrepreneur.

The Glass Recycling Company, which has the endorsement of the Ministry for Environmental Affairs and Tourism, 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 by collectors in townships as well as city areas.

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. Despite being 100 recyclable, just 20 (140 000 tons) of all glass containers produced annually are retrieved for recycling in South Africa. This means that about 550 000 tons of waste glass finds its way into our landfills annually - glass that could be used to save energy and to earn money for collectors," says Jhetam. He adds that as an organization The Glass Recycling Company is aiming to increase the recycling rate from 20 to 50 within the next five years. "That said, we do not physically recycle the glass itself - rather we promote and educate about the importance of the recovery of waste glass for recycling, linked to the need to protect the environment." The organization is aiming to have additional glass banks at strategic locations throughout the country commencing March 2007. The banks will facilitate the recovery of waste glass from urban consumers and dwellers. "Environmental protection and ecotourism is the responsibility of every citizen and by recycling glass: energy, water and other non-renewable natural resources are preserved. By way of example: the energy saving from recycling one bottle will power a 100 watt light bulb for almost an hour; and a TV for 20 minutes. Added to this, glass is infinitely recyclable and does not affect the quality or integrity of the new product. "For recycling to work, everyone has to participate in each phase of the process. We are therefore calling on the people of South Africa: coporates, religious institutions, community organizations, schools and consumers of glass to help us by making recycling part of their daily routine. So start collecting today and get cash for glass," urges Jhetam.

For further information visit: http://www.theglassRecyclingCompany.co.za

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Government Digest - 1 March 2007

SA lags in glass recycling

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.

Industry's response is The Glass Recycling Company - South Africa's new national organization 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 is 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 minimize 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 creating synergies with NGOs, CBOs and other organizations," adds Jhetam.

This non-profit organization 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 additional 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 other 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 4 000 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.

"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, bank it," urges Jhetam.

For further information visit: http://www.theglassRecyclingCompany.co.za

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Your Child - 1 March 2007

trends - Green Kids

The Glass Recycling Company works to educate people about the importance of recycling and is in the process of installing glass banks throughout the country from this year. To find out where they will be installed visit http://www.theglassRecyclingCompany.co.za

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DeKat - 1 April 2007

Herwin jou glas en maak ’n verskil

Watter verskil sal dit maak indien jy éÃ©n glasbottel herwin? Die energiebesparing hiervan sal ’n 100W-gloeilamp vir byna ’n uur laat brand, ’n wasmasjien aan die gang hou vir tien minute, vir 20 minute se TV-kyk sorg en jou die kans gee om 25 minute langer op jou rekenaar te werskaf. Omgewingsbeskerming en ekotoerisme is die verantwoordelikheid van elke landsburger en deur glas ter herwin word energie, water en ander nie-herwinbare natuurlike grondstowwe bewaar. The Glass Recycling Company beywer hom om die mors van glas te verminder en om volhoubare herwinning aan te moedig. Hierdie nie-winsgewende organisasie herwin nie die glas self nie, maar stel "glasbanke" beskikbaar op strategiese plekke vir plattelandse inwoners en stadsjapies. Werkloses kan ook by dié proses baat aangesien die versamelaar van glas beloon sal word deur iemand wat betrokke is by die herwinning van afvalglas of meer gevestigde entrepreneurs. Daar is reeds 100 entrepreneurs wat ongeveer 5 000 informele werksgeleenthede geskep het deur die versameling van afvalglas. Glas is heeltemal herwinbaar en affekteer nie die gehalte van die nuwe produk nie. So sit dit in die bank, dis ’n belegging vir almal se toekoms.

Vir meer inligting besoek http://www.theglassRecyclingCompany.co.za

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Top Huis - 1 April 2007

TYD OM TE HERWIN

Het jy geweet? Die energie wat bespaar word deur een herwinde glas bottel is genoeg om ’n 100watt gloeilamp vir ongeveer een uur te laat brand, ’n wasmasjien vir 10 minute, ’n TV vir 20 minute en ’n rekenaar vir 25 minute. Ten spyte van die feit dat glas 100 herwinbaar is, word slegs 20 van alle glashouers in Suid-Afrika jaarliks herwin.

The Glass Recycling Company, ’n landwye organisasie sonder winsmotief, is onlangs op die been gebring om herwinning te fasiliteer en te bestuur. Daar is ’n groot behoefte aan infrastruktuur om uitgebrei te word sodat glasherwinning makliker is. Vir herwinning om te werk, moet almal hul deel doen en betrokke raak by al die fases van die proses.

Dit moet deel van ons daaglikse lewe raak - ’n roetine of gewoonte. In Maart is daar bykomende glasherwinningsbanke geïnstalleer, wat meer toeganklik sal wees vir die breër publiek. Die herwinningsproses skep ook inkomste-geleenthede vir werklose mense aangesien die insamelaar van glasafval vergoed kan word deur plaaslike ophalers of entrepreneurs.

The Glass Recycling Company beoog om ongeveer 80 intrepeneurs per jaar op die been te kry wat dan weer bykans 4000 nuwe informele werke sal skep danksy die herwinning van glas. Glas kan oneindig herwin word sonder om die kwaliteit of integriteit van die nuwe produk te benadeel. So moenie weggooi nie, herwin eerder.

www.theglassRecycling Company.co.za

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Wineland/Wynland - 1 May 2007

Recycling in a different light

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.

Despite being 100 recyclable, just 20 (140 000 tons) of all glass containers produed 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 44 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.

According to The Glass Recycling Company's general manager, Shabeer Jhetam, 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 minimize 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 creating synergies with NGOs, CBOs and other organizations," adds 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 4 000 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.

"Environmental protection and ecotourism is the responsibility of every citizen and by recycling glass, energy, water and other non-renewable natural resources are preserved. By way of example: the energy saving from recycling one bottle will power a 100 Watt light bulb for almost an hour; a washing machine for 10 minutes; a TV for 20 minutes and a computer for 25 minutes. Added to this, glass is infinitely recyclable and does not affect the quality or integrity of the new product," says Jhetam.

"For recycling to be successful, 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," urges Jhetam.

For further information, visit: http://www.theglassRecyclingCompany.co.za

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Sunday Times, It's My Business (Pg 2) - 4 February 2007

Glass struggle to help the poor

A big new recycling drive is good news for entrepreneurs, writes Alice Rhodes

Glass is (clearly!) amazing stuff. It is 100 recyclable; turning smashed-up glass (known as "cullet") into new bottles and jars takes less energy than it takes to create them from scratch.

Glass can also be a real money-spinner - just ask Louis Molefi, owner of Molefi Recycling in Dobsonville, Soweto.

Louis worked for the big glass company, Consol Glass, in his mid-twenties, having followed his father into the packaging sector. But after only three years, Louis saw a gap and with Consol's help, took it. He had run one of the company's "buy-back" centres, where people can exchange old bottles for cash. Using his experience and Consol's help with equipment, Louis set up on his own in 1998, and two years later registered Molefi Recycling.

All you need

The overheads are not heavy in the recycling business - you basically need the site, scales for measuring the material, and a container to put it in.

In those days the glass had to be sold to Consol already sorted into clear, green and brown; nowadays Consol has a machine that does this - making Louis' life simpler.

Louis gradually built up a fleet of trucks, making the operation more efficient and adding the delivery of recyclable glass to his profit generators.

He employs 30 salaried people on two sites, and has about 500 regular suppliers of glass. These informal traders bring their makeshift trolleys full of the stuff every day - plus paper, plastic and scrap metal, Molefi Recycling's turnover is some R500 000 a month. Louis reckons about 200 tons of glass pass through his business every month, plus another 400 tons of other recyclable material.

"Glass is non-toxic, there are no fumes, nothing. It's very good material," says Louis.

Molefi Recycling, he says, is "the number one recycler in Soweto".

Business sewn up

Louis has Dobsonville's waste-glass collection business pretty much sewn up, and there are some 40 other collecting agents in Gauteng townships - part of an estimated total of 100 throughout the country.

Now the sector is set to get a real boost, from something called The Glass Collecting Company. A joint effort by the country's two big glass manufacturers, the government and almost every major glass use and filler in the country, The Glass Collecting Company was set up in July last year.

It aims to more than double South Africa's 20 recycling rate in the next few years. The target is to recycle every second bottle or jar produced in South Africa by 2011 - a healthy 50 recycling rate of the country's annual 550 000 tons of waste glass, most of which is now languishing in landfills.

The Glass Recycling Company is about to roll out a massive marketing campaign that will encourage all South Africans to recycle glass; it will set up collection points where householders can drop off their used bottles and jars.

Those collection points won't pay for the glass - the consumer's reward comes from doing right by the planet - but a second initiative by The Glass Recycling Company will not only do the green thing, it will also create jobs and get some money into the pockets of the country's many unemployed.

It plans to do this by replicating Louis' operation - on a smaller scale to begin with - all over the country.

"The Glass Recycling Company does not buy, make or sell any products," says general manager Shabeer Jhetam (pictured right).

Give us your glass

"The company facilitates the recovery of waste glass by capacity building, marketing and education."

This includes the stated aim of setting up 80 new entrepreneurs a year. Each one will register with Consol or Nampak Glass, the big glass makers, and then act as a collection point to which unemployed men and women in their area can bring glass.

"Approximately 50 collectors sell glass to an entrepreneur. Hence, at least 4 000 new informal jobs would be created a year," says Shabeer.

Depending on the "creativity and ingenuity of the entrepreneur", they can earn from a few hundred rand to as much as R35 000 a month, says Shabeer.

The Glass Recycling Company's activities are funded by a levy on every ton bought by the big users of glass.

As for Louis, he is secure in the knowledge that the promotion of more glass collection will proceed in a way that doesn't crowd the market in one area while neglecting others. "I know The Glass Recycling Company won't set up another entrepreneur in Dobsonville," he says.

The initiative may even present another opportunity for Molefi Recycling: "I will be able to offer a transport service for the new companies," says Louis.

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Sunday Times, It's My Business (Pg 3) - 4 February 2007

Just add glass

The Glass Recycling Company has set itself the target of creating 80 new entrepreneurs a year. It will do this by equipping those chosen for the initiative with almost everything they need to start a glass collection depot.

What they will do for you

Depending on the scale of the proposed depot, the company will provide equipment such as waste skips and/or one-ton bulk bags, scales, drums and protective gear.

For would-be entrepreneurs working in areas where there is easy access to the trucks that can pick up skips, these will be used. In more remote areas, the solution would seem to be the one-ton bags.

"You can get about 800kg of glass into one of those bulk bags; fill 30 or 35 of them, load them onto an interlinked truck and you're sending 30 tons off to the factory," says The Glass Recycling Company's general manager, Shabeer Jhetam.

As for arranging transport, depot owners can get the glassmakers, Consol and Nampak, to collect the waste glass - for a fee - or take care of the transport themselves. It's up to the entrepreneur to work out the best and most profitable way to handle this end of the business.

What they won't do for you

The Glass Recycling Company does not supply the premises or site for the glass collection depot, and they don't supply the start-up cash with which to purchase waste glass from the smaller "trolley" collectors in their area.

What you need to do

Contact The Glass Recycling Company on (011) 803-0767 during office hours and they will tell you how to proceed. Entrepreneurs will be chosen on the basis of a sound business plan, and the selection will be based on the area they plan to operate in.

Because the aim of the company is to collect as much of South Africa's waste glass as possible, they want the new depots spread far and wide.

The Glass Recycling Company won't buy the waste glass from those entrepreneurs it helps to set up. The depots register with Consol and/or Nampak as vendors, and sell the glass directly to them.

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Klerksdorp Midweek - 6 March 2007

Get cash for glass

According to The Glass Recycling Company's general manager, Shabeer Jhetam, a man who comes from a recycling background, there are opportunities for glass collection to yield an alternative income stream for the unemployed. The collector of the waste glass is reimbursed for the recovery of glass by a local dealer of waste glass (scrap dealer), or by the more established entrepreneur.

"Despite being 100 recyclable, just 20 (140 000 tons) of all glass containers produced annually are retrieved for recycling in South Africa. This means that about 550 000 tons of waste glass finds its way into our landfills annually - glass that could be used to save energy and to earn money for collectors," says Jhetam.

He adds that as an organization, The Glass Recycling Company is aiming to increase the recycling rate from 20 to 50 within the next five years. "That said, we do not physically recycle the glass itself - rather we promote and educate about the importance of the recovery of waste glass for recycling, linked to the need to protect the environment."

The organization is aiming to have additional 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.

"Environment protection and ecotourism is the responsibility of every citizen and by recycling glass: energy, water and other non-renewable natural resources are preserved. By way of example: the energy saving from recycling one bottle will power a 100 watt light bulb for almost an hour; and a TV for 20 minutes. Added to this, glass is infinitely recyclable and does not affect the quality or integrity of the new product.

"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 institutions, community organizations, schools and consumers of glass to help us by making recycling part of their daily routine.

"So start collecting today and get cash for glass," urges Jhetam.

For further information, visit: http://www.theglassRecyclingCompany.co.za

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Citizen - 14 March 2007

See-through success

Growing concern for the environment has led to an increased awareness of recycling, writes NADIA GARDNER.

Environmental concern is on the rise, as is evident in the recent Hollywood blockbuster, An Inconvenient truth and thanks to celebrities like Daryl Hannah who are committed environmental activists punting the cause.

The Glass Recycling Company is an organization that aims to minimize wastage of glass and promote sustainable recycling. This non-profit organization does not recycle the glass itself. Rather, it promotes and educates about the importance of the recovery of cullet (the term for crushed pieces of glass) linked to the need to protect the environment.

According to The Glass Recycling Company's General Manager, Shabeer Jhetam, everyone should be recycling - from children to the man on the street, the housewife, retailers and big corporates.

"This is especially true when considering that the current recycling rate for glass in SA is only 21%. This is low when compared to international glass recycling rates: Australia 50%, UK 45 and Brazil 40%."

WHY RECYCLE?

We know that environmental protection is the responsibility of every citizen and that by recycling glass, energy, water and other non-renewable natural resources are preserved.

Jhetam explains that silica (sand) is the main ingredient used to manufacture glass, of which there is a limited supply.

He says we will get to the stage when we will deplete silica reserves, which will prevent new glass from being manufactured. It would then be impossible to enjoy our favourite beverage or jam preserves which always taste better when packaged in glass.

We may not experience a shortage of glass in our life-times but it will result in our children and future generation not being able to enjoy products packaged in glass.

"If more glass is recycled, less waste has to be handled by our municipalities, which will have a positive impact on keeping increases in waste removal costs to a minimum which will result in a direct benefit to all homeowners in terms of rates. Unemployment has a direct bearing on crime in our country. Glass recycling creates thousands in informal jobs for the unemployed which in turn will lead to a decrease in crime, a concern of all South Africans," says Jhetam.

WHERE?

The ultimate end-users of glass are large corporates like Consol and Nampak Wiegand Glass. These companies recycle the old glass by putting them into a furnace with other raw materials to manufacture new glass containers.

The Glass Recycling Company will, as of this month, have glass banks in place at strategic locations throughout the country, which will facilitate the recovery of waste glass from urban consumers and city dwellers.

By depositing glass bottles, jars and other containers that can be recycled in these glass banks, consumers can make a difference and help the process of recycling and protecting our environment.

HOW?

Jhetam explains how glass is recycled.

"The glass is sorted by colour, and crushed into tiny pieces. This cullet is mixed with silica (sand), soda ash and limestone. The mixture is then melted to a molten state in the furnace. The molten glass is then poured into moulds. The glass is cooled slowly to increase its strength. This is how a new glass is produced from waste or recycled glass."

WHAT CAN BE RECYCLED?

Glass bottles, jars and other glass containers can be recycled. Ceramic cups, plates and pottery, clay garden pots, laboratory glass, crystal and opaque drinking glasses, mirrors, windshields and window glass, heat-resistant ovenware (for example Pyrex) and light bulbs cannot be recycled.

That sa