One ‘owl’ of an idea
BRYANSTON – Plastic bottles and containers can be dropped off at Bibi Rouge and the Owl Rescue Centre will turn it into owl houses.
The Owl Rescue Centre has come up with a unique idea of cutting down on plastic waste.
The centre is collecting plastic from all around the country and making owl houses of it. There are numerous drop-off points where residents can leave their plastic to be recycled by the centre. Bryanston residents can drop off their plastic at Bibi Rouge on 256 Bryanston Drive.
Brendon and Danelle Murray started the non-profit organisation about 10 years ago and they now dedicate their time to rehabilitating owls so that they can be released into the wild. They are also involved in various owl conservation projects to decrease the risk factors to the birds.
Danelle said their passion for conservation, however, was not limited to owls and their way of life was centred around it. “It was our seven-year-old daughter [Rebecca] that propelled us to pioneer a plastic recycling drive to stop all the plastic waste from landing up in the ocean,” she said.
“After Rebecca watched a programme on what happens to marine life because of plastic straws, she started refusing it whenever offered.”
Danelle added that if it a child was able to make an effort to protect the environment then everyone else could too. “Brendan and I researched methods of plastic recycling and came up with a way that the centre can manufacture our conservation products, like owl houses, bat houses and beehives, which is currently made from wood, out of recycled plastic instead.”
She said so far the response to the project had been incredible. “It truly gives us hope for a bright future. We are especially pleased about the many schools that have joined our efforts and are collecting all their plastic waste for our recycling project. We regard this project as a great opportunity for schools to teach learners about recycling.”
To make an owl house they need between 12kg and 18kg of recycled plastic, depending on the species’ breeding preferences. So far the centre has been able to make a few houses out of the recycled material.
“We are thrilled with the results. It is an exhilarating feeling to see a concept that we are so passionate about, realised into a feasible product.”
For a full list of places you can drop off plastic items, click here.
Details: Owl Rescue Centre 082 719 5463
Share your thoughts on the recycling project on the Sandton Chronicle Facebook page.
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Encourage owls into the suburb
