Earning cash for cans

Collect cans and save the environment, earn prizes and get into the Guinness World Records before the end of the month, schools, charities and organisations have been urged.
A RECYCLING company is inviting schools in Joburg and the rest of the country to help beat a Guinness World Record for the collection of the most cans in a single month and, at the same, time help preserve the environment.

Saving the environmentCollect cans and save the environmentWith only a few days left before the month is up, Collect-a-Can is urging schools and charity organisations to help it collect cans. The company is aiming to beat its own world record. It set its first Guinness World Record in 2007 for collecting the most cans in a single month.

That year, two million cans were collected, accounting for almost 10 percent of the total can production in South Africa for 2006. The record was kept in 2008 and the company broke it again in 2009 and 2010, collecting 2 656 286 cans.

“We feel confident that we can do this. We have more than 300 schools participating in our national competition this year and they always show great enthusiasm,” says Gregory Masoka, the operations manager at Collect-a-Can.

Beverage cans, food cans, aerosol cans and paint cans can be collected. Beverage cans are the most recycled form of beverage packaging in South Africa, making them the most eco-friendly choice when buying drinks.

There are prizes for those schools and institutions that collect the most cans. As in previous years, Pan Macmillan is sponsoring book prizes, while Nampak Bevcan and Collect-a-Can is sponsoring cash prizes of up to R230 000. Two new sponsors, SC Johnson and Pick n Pay, will donate hampers to the four winning schools and the winning charity.

Schools participating in Collect-a-Can’s national schools competition are automatically entered into the Guinness World Records competition, while charities need to download an entry form from Collect-a-Can’s website to participate.

The general public and corporate organisations are encouraged to adopt a school or charity over October and donate used cans to a Collect-a-Can branch on their behalf, thus boosting their collection numbers and their chances of winning.

Nampak Bevcan, DivFood and Collect-a-Can have also joined forces under the Nampak banner to become the first official global African partners of Canvironment Week, running from 10 to 17 November. The worldwide initiative aims not only to educate but also to take action as far as can recycling is concerned.

For more information visit the Collect-a-Can website or contact the head office on 011 466 2939.