World leader in metal can recovery celebrates 20 years

Since its inception in 1993, Southern Africa's used can recovery rate improved from a mere 18% to 72%, putting South Africa on track to reach the UN target of 75% by 2015, comparing positively to first world rates.

"Our aim for the next 20 years is to reach 100% recovery, which will not be possible without the continuous help of our communities and the support of the media", said Zimasa Velaphi, PR and marketing manager of Collect-a-Can at the launch of the celebration.

Key national priorities

The company focuses on a number of key national priorities and is a prominent figure in uplifting the community through art, education and entrepreneurship initiatives. It has an extensive environmental programme and exciting schools' competition that run annually to create enthusiasm amongst the youth, while at the same time creating awareness about the importance of not littering and of recycling. This campaign reaches up to 250,000 children in schools throughout Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal, Western Cape and the North West Province annually.

Entrepreneurial development is just as important to the company, with between 100,000 and 160,000 informal collectors earning a living or supplementing their income by collecting cans. Communities are also engaged through CAN collection drives and community clean-up initiatives that are routinely hosted by the company throughout South Africa.

"We have exciting initiatives planned for 2013, such as the 20 Drop Corporate CAN drive, encouraging corporate participation, a take on the indigenous children's '3-tin-game' and 20km community walks to be hosted across South Africa," says Velaphi.

For more, go to www.collectacan.co.za.