Turning bread tags into wheelchairs
Who would’ve thought providing wheelchairs to the physically challenged can be as simple as recycling the bread tags that seal the packages of the number one food staple in most households.
Learners from Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School (GHS) have embarked on a unique recycling project that provides the physically disabled in need with wheelchairs and other walking aids.
The school, in collaboration with Pick n Pay at Athlone Circle, are collecting bread tags which are sold to companies that manufacture seedling trays and picture frames. The proceeds of the sales will be used to purchase wheelchairs, walking frames and rollators for disabled persons in need.
Bread tags are made of high impact polystyrene and have a high recycling value. They also come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours.
A regular bread bag can hold 1kg of tags. The collection of 200 bread bags filled with tags can purchase one wheelchair.
Nicole John, the marketing manager at GHS, said they have partnered with the Pick n Pay Athlone Circle to assist with the collection drive. The collection is ongoing and all grades of the school are involved.
Although they have not counted the tags, quite a large number have been collected. She urged members of the community to also get involved in the project.
The national coordinator of the Bread Tags for Wheelchairs project, Lorna
Norris, said that the project has been running for 14 years and to date, 946 wheelchairs have been purchased.
If anyone would like to get involved in the project, contact Courtney Thatcher at Pick n Pay (WhatsApp 082 880 1309) or visit www.breadtagsforwheelchairs.co.za