POLOKWANE – Glass bottles and jars are 100% recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without any loss in purity or quality.
The container and fiberglass industries collectively purchase 3 million tons of recycled glass annually, which is repurposed for use in the production of new containers and fiberglass products. Over a ton of natural resources are saved for every ton of glass recycled.
Moses Mogale, a local glass recycler who has four permanent employees, urges residents to take up recycling to help the environment and earn an income.
“Recycling is easy and you don’t have to start big to make an impact,” he told Review.
Mogale explained the process of collecting and recycling glass, stating some recyclers may wish to use an additional sturdy dustbin or container that can house all the recyclable glass. “Glass containers, bottles and jars, such as those used for food and beverages can be included for recycling,” he said.
Glass that can be recycled:
Jars and bottles, glass tomato sauce and mayonnaise bottles, glass coffee jars, jam or pickle jars, glass cooldrink bottles, beer and wine bottles.
Glass that cannot be recycled with packaging glass:
Windscreen glass, window pane glass, mirrors, light bulbs, drinking glasses and tumblers, Pyrex TM or laboratory glass.
“These items cannot be recycled with your regular glass as this glass has different properties to packaging glass,” he explained.
He said for glass to be collected and recycled, people need to clean them so there is no residual food or drink left inside them and the caps need to be removed.
“Next, find a glass bank or recycling point. There are recycling points at many service stations, shopping centres, municipal refuse drop-off sites and buy-back centres,” he said.
You can also SMS* “Glass” and the name of your suburb to 32310 to find a glass bank in your area.
Here are a few more tips to help people recycle:
- Start recycling at the office and not just at home, encourage your school and local community organisations to participate or start their own recycling programme.
- Plan your trips to the glass banks to fit into your daily schedule.
- If taking your waste glass can’t be accommodated into your daily routine, contract the services of a waste removal company to collect it from your home each week. South Africa has one of the most sophisticated returnable systems in the world!
“Become a part of the growing trend of people who are smart enough and care enough to recycle,” Mogale said.
Read more about Moses Mogale’s glass recycling business in Review Weekend edition 23 February – 2 March.
