South Africa is not only known for its stunning coastlines but also for its commitment to preserving them. Plastics SA’s annual Clean-Up & Recycle SA Week, which will take place this year from 11-16 September 2023, plays a pivotal role in promoting environmental sustainability and combating the waste crisis plaguing our beautiful country.

“Plastics SA is proud to announce its 27th year of coordinating South Africa's active participation in the International Coastal Clean-up Day (ICC), taking place at beaches across the country and around the world on Saturday, 16 September 2023, which will also be World Clean-Up Day. This year the Clean-Up & Recycle SA Week will again feature numerous clean-ups on beaches, at rivers, water sources and in communities and neighbourhoods around the country. Highlights of the week include National River Clean-up Day on Wednesday, 13 September and National Recycling Day SA on Friday, 15 September. The culmination of the week’s activities will be on Saturday, 16 September, when South Africans from all walks of life come together for International Coastal Clean-up Day and World Clean-up Day,” says Douw Steyn, Sustainability Director at Plastics SA.

To further emphasize their dedication and aid in clean-up activities, Plastics SA has increased the number of yellow refuse bags to an impressive 700,000, ensuring that the industry and coordinators of clean-ups can make a substantial impact on cleaning up our beaches and rivers. Cleanup champions in Gauteng and Mpumalanga will also be recognized and rewarded with essential clean-up tools i.e. of bags, gumboots, gloves, rakes and other equipment needed to clean the roadsides and rivers on River Clean-up Day. 

"South Africa is facing a waste crisis, and every citizen can make a difference to reduce the amount of litter that pollutes our environment or ends up in landfill. As far as possible, we try to ensure that all the clean-ups that we support are audited and that volunteers register online on our www.cleanupandrecycle.co.za website. This allows us to build a detailed snapshot of the waste landscape in the country, the number of people who participated and how we as an industry can respond and provide support to community initiatives,” Douw says.

“During the entire month of September, Plastics SA with the support of all packaging streams, Producer Responsibility Organisations (PRO's), various sponsors, businesses, and industries, as well as national and local government entities, community organizations, and municipalities will be conducting clean-ups in an effort to raise awareness about the importance of effective waste management and recycling. This collective effort underscores the importance of collaborative action in addressing environmental challenges. We encourage South Africans from all walks of life to make a difference where they work, live, learn or play this September by participating or coordinating a clean-up in order to create a cleaner, greener South Africa. Together, we can make a lasting difference!” Douw concludes.