According to the CEO of The Glass Recycling Company (TGRC), Shabeer Jhetam, South Africans continue to make the effort to recycle, reuse and even return glass for refilling. "Clearly many people recognise the value and importance of this pure substance. As a result approximately 222 000 tons of carbon emissions were reduced by recycling glass." Since the company began its campaign to increase recycling, there has been a phenomenal 230% increase in just seven years.
As glass is made from natural substances, it is endlessly recyclable, making it a truly environmentally sustainable packaging. As the recycling rate has now reached 40.6%, this means that almost every new glass bottle and jar made in our country contains 40% recycled glass. In fact, glass has the highest recycled content of all packaging in our country.
Jhetam says that South Africa is doing well in comparison with international recycling nations, explaining that glass beverage bottle recycling rates in the United States have remained fairly stagnant at 36.9%, for the past ten years.
Even as access to pavement collection of recyclables increased in the US throughout the late 1990s, recycling rates for glass have declined and have not recovered. We are seeing competition from the Aussies who have a glass recycling rate of 45.3%, however, it is surprising and disappointing to note that the Australian glass recycling rate has declined from 49% to 45.3% over the past three years.
TGRC notes that in many of the provinces it is clear that the lower income groups are those who are truly investing their time in glass collection for recycling. Many individuals earn an informal livelihood by selling bulk quantities of glass to be recycled by the glass manufacturers.
While it is positive that so many recognise the value of glass, it is disheartening to note that many middle to upper class residents are not currently making an effort to separate and recycle their glass at a glass bank.
Glass can easily be recycled by taking glass bottles and jars to a glass bank in your community.
Should you not have a glass bank in your area and there is sufficient demand you can request one on TGRC website, www.tgrc.co.za.
In addition you can find a glass bank by looking on our website or by sending an SMS with the word 'glass' and the name of your suburb to 32310, at a cost of R1.00 per SMS.
