Amanzimtoti ecobrick recycling confusion dents organiser’s pocket

WHILE ecobrick collections in Amanzimtoti have taken off in the last few months, the organiser of the local drive to collect these reusable plastic devices has sought to clarify the initial offer of R10 per ecobrick.

The offer of payment for each recycled and filled plastic bottle was not intended for application to the general community, but rather the few who were personally asked to pack the bricks by organiser and Amanzimtoti resident, Shaun Callaghan.

Read also: Put another #ecobrick in the wall

The ecobricks will be put to good use in an initial project of building walls and runs at Amanzimtoti SPCA.
In an article in the Sun about the ecobrick project, it was mentioned that carguards and some local unemployed street people were paid R10 a brick when they correctly filled, compacted and handed in their filled two-litre bottles to Shaun Callaghan.

Callaghan has now explained that since the article, Amanzimtoti residents of all socio-economic standings have taken up the opportunity to make money from the initiative.

“I’ve spent some R3,000 paying out people R10 for each ecobrick they bring in to the drop-off points. Most of these people arrive in the latest BMWs, Mercedes and other expensive cars and demand I pay them R10 per brick. Most of these bricks aren’t correctly filled (they dent when stood on, which they shouldn’t). In the previous article I asked local businesses to come forward and make donations towards paying the needy for their ecobricks, but I have yet to receive a cent from any businesses,” said Callaghan.

Callaghan clarified that the R10 offer to fill an ecobrick correctly was extended to those who live on the streets, and it was intended to make the initiative empower the upliftment of the community in this way. Callaghan intends to tackle non-profitable community projects with the collected ecobricks.

It would be unsustainable for the very community which will benefit from the project to be paid for filling and handing in an ecobrick.

Check this out: Recycled palstic boom to aid river litter fight 

“We’re going to start building runs and walls, using the ecobricks, at Amanzimtoti SPCA soon,” said Callaghan. Initially it will have to be worked out how to build with them most effectively, but all those involved have great enthusiasm for the project. This will be the first SPCA in the country known to utilise ecobricks as a building material. Another project in the pipeline is a bird hide along Amanzimtoti River.

Completed ecobricks can now also be dropped at the Amanzimtoti SPCA, along with previous drop-off points including the Spy Shop in Toti Centre above Woolworths, Secret Corner in Athlone Park near the Hot Rock Cafe and Produce Direct Farmers Market on Main Road, Doonside.

More information can be sought on Callaghan’s website, www.plastics4change.co.za, which raises awareness about ecobricks and his river litter booms, which are also made of two-litre bottles. Learn how to get involved, the difference they’ll make, where drop-off points are and projects both on the go and already tackled.

How to make an ecobrick:

Stuff dry, non-recyclable household waste into a two-litre plastic bottle. Compact it properly and fill all available space in the bottle. Once the bottle is full, when standing on it, it shouldn’t dent at all. Ecobricks that dent cannot be used to build with, and so these are a waste. Rather fill few ecobricks properly than fill many half-heartedly.

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