Collect-a-Can celebrates successes in Cape Town
25 November 2009

Collect-a-Can recognises schools for their tremendous collecting contributions during the year.
At a closed function earlier this month, at Ratanga Junction, Collect-a-Can congratulated and honoured schools in the Western Cape that have made a significant contribution to the collection of cans during 2009.

“The Annual National Schools Competition has always been a very important date on Collect-a-Can’s Calendar. The youth has always been very important to us, and we acknowledge the age old proverb that says, ‘We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.’ So it is pivotal for us to instill good waste management habits from an early age so that recycling becomes second nature,” said Annie Tsima, Managing Director of Collect-a-Can.
Tsima continued, “Even though 2009 has been a very challenging year for Collect-a-Can in light of the economic situation and fluctuating steel price, we were still able to achieve a 72% recovery rate.  This puts Southern Africa in the world’s top five and makes Collect-a-Can the most successful operation of its kind in the world.”
Guest speaker, Alderman Clive Justus from the City of Cape Town focussed on the importance of recycling and looking after our natural resources, and congratulated Collect-a-Can on its school initiatives.

Western Cape Schools can be very proud of their achievements this year. The National Competition’s Category 1 (most cans collected in total), was won by the Oasis Association who walked away with the grand prize of R25,000.00. Panda Bear Day Care walked away with the second prize of R15 000 for the National Competition, Category 2 (most cans collected per learner); Oasis came third in this category winning R5 000.00. Oasis Association and Panda Day Care each also won an additional R 9 000.00 for collecting the most cans each month from February to October.  Ingrid Joubert, Grade 6 learner from Kenridge Primary School won the National Poetry Competition, winning herself R1,000.00 for her entry, “My Can, My Environment.” Bay Primary won third prize for their entry into the National “CAN Craze” competition, with their car made from used beverage cans big enough for two learners to sit inside, walking away with R3,000.00 for their school!

Next year Collect-a-Can will be adding another competition to the competition stable – learners will be required to interpret “used beverage cans in perfect harmony with nature” through either a painting or drawing.

CAPTION – learners from Panda Bear Day Care plays with Collect-a-Can’s Can Man before the awards function at Ratanga Junction. The Day Care walked away with R24 000 for their continued can collecting effort throughout the year!
Photographer: Regine le Roux

For more information on Collect-a-Can and their various competitions visit Collect-a-Can’s website www.collectacan.co.za or contact Collect-a-Can’s head office on (011) 466 2939.