Do your bit by recycling all your glass

IN THE Covid-19 era, World Environment Day on Friday will take on an even more significant meaning, as the air we breathe, the water we drink and the climate that makes our planet liveable all come from nature – coinciding with this year’s theme: Time for Nature.

By actively making glass recycling part of your everyday life, you too are making time for nature and the fight against climate change.

The Glass Recycling Company would like to encourage every South African to continue doing their part for the environment.

When it comes to recycling, every bit helps. Take the environment into consideration, not only on World Environment Day, but during all of June. Some benefits of glass recycling to bear in mind:

Recycling saves energy. Making glass from raw materials or for the first time uses more energy than making it from a recycled glass bottle or jar.

It reduces pollution. Glass produced from recycled glass bottles or jars reduces related air pollution by 20% and related water pollution by 50%. Recycling glass saves scarce landfill space. Recycling glass bottles and jars mean less trash goes to landfills. Recycling conserves natural resources. For every ton of recycled glass used in the manufacturing of new glass packaging, 1.2 tons of non-renewable natural resources are saved.

Glass is infinitely recyclable and can be recycled endlessly while maintaining quality.

We encourage everyone to keep making green choices, even during these uncertain times, as even the smallest green act makes a difference to the environment.

While we are implementing physical distancing and taking the rest of mankind into consideration, we too should be taking the environment into consideration to ensure there is a green future for generations to come.

Please remember to store all your glass bottles and jars at home until lockdown restrictions allow for us to all move around freely again. Recycle all your glass bottles and jars at your nearest glass bank.

SHABEER JHETAM | Chief executive of The Glass Recycling Company

A mountain of bottles await processing at the glass recycling processing plant Van Tuijl, in the Christmas and New Year celebrations, in Gameren, Netherlands, on January 3, 2017. | REMKO DE WAAL EPA African News Agency (ANA)