An appeal is being made to the public and corporates, especially those in the food and hospitality industries, to support this initiative by depositing any used foil at the foil deposit venue adjacent to Woolworths inside The Brightwater Commons, Randburg. Arrangements can also be made for the collecting of large amounts of used foil from organisations within the Johannesburg area by contacting +27 (0)82 379 8760.
In addition to promoting an awareness of recycling, this unique initiative also aims to break the SA Book of Records for the largest amount of used aluminium foil collected. The current record stands at 732kg and the aim is to beat this by collecting 750kg. All the used foil collected will be deposited into the giant soccer ball structure currently displayed at the centre. The campaign will close on Saturday 31 July 2010. Thereafter, all the foil collected will be purchased by Zimalco and the funds donated to the Lehae La Tshepo community support centre.
Whilst more and more people in South Africa are beginning to support initiatives that recycle paper, plastics, glass and tin cans; only a tiny percentage are aware that aluminium foil can also be recycled. Ready-meal containers, catering trays, pie cases and kitchen foil is therefore discarded as everyday waste.
The recycling of used foil has several benefits. Making aluminium requires much energy; but remelting it to make a 'new' product only takes 5% of the original energy required, thereby resulting in an energy saving of 95%. This energy saved results in a reduction of production emissions, which in turn reduce carbon emissions that have an effect on global warming.
In addition, the recycling of used foil reduces the demand on natural resources needed to manufacture new aluminium products. In South Africa, approximately 3500 tons of aluminium foil is used which can be practically collected for recycling on a yearly basis, but of that only a negligible amount is recycled.
As aluminium is an element, used aluminium foil retains all its properties even after being remelted to form a new product. This means that products made from recycled foil are of the same quality as those made from primary aluminium.
