Breadtags mobilise 330 people

Currently in its fifth year, the project encourages people around the country to collect their breadtags that are then used to 'purchase' wheelchairs for people who need them, but are unable to afford to pay R1485 for a standard chair, due to financial difficulties.

"We don't want to see these breadtags end up in our country's landfills, as they have a good recycling market value," says Adri Spangenberg, a director of the Polystyrene Packaging Council (PSPC) drivers of the project. "Factories manufacturing polystyrene and other plastics consume less energy when they used recycled products, resulting in a cleaner, greener and healthier environment."

The plastic bread closures are made from high-density polystyrene. Industry leaders such as Groplast and MFI Mouldings pay for these breadtags in order to recycle them into seedling trays, cornices, skirtings, outdoor furniture, coat hangers, poles and decking.

Five tons of tags

The PSPC has a network of volunteers made up of teachers, learners, churches and individuals who all diligently collect breadtags in order to make a big difference in the lives of the less fortunate.

"We have more than 500 collection boxes placed at schools, retirement villages, libraries, community centres and businesses throughout South Africa. During 2012 alone, one of our coordinators from Cape Town, Mary Honeybun, funded 290 wheelchairs by collecting an impressive five tons of bread tags."

Other recent highlights include the hosting of the first inters-schools competition, whereby the participating schools in the Hartbeespoort Dam area collected 170kgs of bread tags and managed to fund four chairs that were donated to the Sonop Old Age Home in Brits.

Because it is important to ensure that the correct wheelchair is purchased when seating people, the PSPC has recently formed a working relationship with the QuadPara Association of South Africa (QASA). Its 600 volunteers countrywide are joining the PSPC in its collection efforts and assisting with assessing the requirements of wheelchair recipients, by making sure they get the right chair for their needs.

Another boost

Another boost to the project has come from CE Mobility, a local wheelchair manufacturer, who services the wheelchairs to ensure that the wheelchairs donated by the Polystyrene Packaging Council stays in a good condition.

Large corporate such as Sasko, Goldpack en CE Mobility have offered a further boost to the project, by agreeing to a 4-for-1 deal, whereby each company donates a wheelchair to a needy recipient for every wheelchair bought using the breadtags.

"It is important for us to raise awareness that polystyrene is successfully being recycled in South Africa and to create new markets for this recycled product, while at the same time changing somebody's life with one small act of kindness," concludes Spangenberg.

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