White Shark Projects Recycle Swop Shop (RSS) is almost 9 years old and is still going strong, growing more and more popular with the passing of each quarter. Since May, the children of Masakhane have collected an astounding 9,047 tonnes of recyclables – and incredible feat if you consider that the Recycle Swop Shop is only open on (good weather) Tuesdays and that these children bring the recyclables to the RSS in bags, crates, wheelbarrows or anything else they can manage.
This term, we had a total of 2,966 kids visit the RSS and last Tuesday alone, we had 198 children queuing to hand in their recyclables and to receive their points. These points can then be swopped for school stationery, second hand clothing or some fun goodies.
As part of White Shark Projects’ annual awareness campaign, “The 21 Days for the Ocean”, we arranged for a group of Masakhane children to visit the Walker Bay Recycling plant in Hermanus. We wanted them to have a better understanding of why they collect recyclables and what eventually happens to it. They were amazed to see the vast mountains of plastic and cardboard piled high in their respective bales.
Currently, the Overstrand reco-vers about 40% of recyclables from all waste brought to the Transfer Station in Swartdam Road, the rest fills up our landfill sites. Overstranders can help to increase this percentage by using the clear recycling bags purely for recyclable materials and to not mix this with wet waste such as food. Wet paper and heavily soiled recyclables are not accepted by recycling companies and just end up in our landfills.
White Shark Projects would like to thank the children of Masakhane for their diligent work and as always, a big thank you to Nellie Moolman for running the RSS like a well oiled recycling machine.
