Rynfield Primary School is now a collection point for the Sweethearts Foundation.
The foundation, which was established on February 14, 2013, collects plastic bottle tops and bread tags which are then recycled. Funds collected from the process go towards purchasing wheelchairs for underprivileged individuals.
Rynfield Primary School marketing manager Michael van Aswegen said the school got involved in the initiative when a Grade One teacher requested her class to donate their leftover bottle tops and bread tags from home after her husband started collecting them for the cause.
Since then, more learners from the school have become actively involved in the collection.
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According to the Sweethearts Foundation Johannesburg area manager, Jessica Gordon, Rynfield Primary School is among one of many collection points in the country but is the only official point in Benoni so far.
The foundation is committed to community, and volunteers use their own skills, resources and time to help the less fortunate.
One of the firm beliefs carried through by the organisation is that a wheelchair should be recognised as a basic human right.
Jessica said wheelchairs are tailored according to the needs a recipient may have.
“Bottle tops and bread tags are two different types of plastic and it is imperative that these plastics are separated and stored in clearly marked boxes or bags to ensure they get sent to the correct recycling partner,” she explained.
While bread tags are easier to collect, owing to their uniformity, bottle tops are slightly more complicated as not all bottle tops are accepted.
“The best way to identify if a bottle top can be used is to ask ‘can I drink the liquid from this bottle’, if the answer is yes then it can be recycled for the purpose we serve,” she said.
“Unfortunately, we cannot use bottle tops from peanut butter jars, toothpaste and medicine bottles.
“Once you have collected enough bottle tops and bread tags, you can drop it off at your nearest collection point.
“From the collection point, the material is transported to our recycling partners.”
Approximately 450kg of bottle tops or 50kg of bread tags are required for a basic wheelchair, but Jessica said any and all contributions left at collection points is appreciated and needed.
For more information contact Michael on 011 849 5215 or Jessica on 071 170 0634 or visit the Foundation’s website at www.sweetheartsfoundation.org
