Every day millions of people make use of the plastic top on a milk, water or cooldrink bottle, and the small square plastic tag used to keep bread bags closed.
These tops and tags end up in the garbage with the empty container.
An immense difference can however be made by rather collecting the tops and tags, contributing to a more earth-friendly approach.
What is more, this has also evolved into a way of helping those in need of a wheelchair.
Since the foundation’s establishment in 2013, this national non-profit, community-driven and volunteer-based organisation has provided hundreds of wheelchairs to individuals across the country. The foundation is of firm belief that anyone who is in need of a wheelchair should have one.
Volunteers, affectionately named “Sweethearts,” range from everyday volunteers to high-ranking individuals who juggle work, family, and helping others.
Jessica Gordon, operations manager at the foundation, says they collect significant amounts of bread tags and plastic bottle tops from various individuals, schools, and organisations from around the country to be recycled.
Beneficiaries, who are on a waiting list, often require something more specialised, making the number of tops and tags required higher.
The foundation however works on a case-to-case basis, with a team of occupational therapists who recommend which wheelchair would be best-suited to each beneficiary.
Contribute your top, tag and time
Gordon says collection points are run by wonderful Sweethearts volunteers.
“If you don’t have a collection point nearby, you can become an official collection point for The Sweethearts Foundation,” she adds.
This is done totally voluntarily, with no payment involved.
Only plastic bottle tops “of products that can be drunk”, can be collected. That is mainly tops of milk, water and cooldrink bottles.
The lids on bottles containing household detergents, peanut butter, and mayonnaise, among others, are excluded. Absolutely no metal tops, lids, or caps are accepted.
Also, in the process of collecting tops and tags should be separated, as it is made of different types of plastic.
Store the tops and tags in clearly labelled boxes.
All tops and tags should be clean and dry, especially those reclaimed through community clean-up days or from rubbish dumps.
No foreign objects or metal should be collected with the tops and tags.
Couriers will collect the boxes of tops and tags from the collection point, with no cost involved for the volunteers.
“We really have high hopes of growing our foundation; thereby recycling more, being able to buy more wheelchairs, as well as identifying more people needing wheelchairs,” concludes Gordon.
- Visit sweetheartsfoundation.org and the Facebook page The Sweethearts Foundation, or send email to jessica@sweetheartsfoundation.org.
Collection point in Kimberley
- The 1st Kimberley Girl Guides are operating a collection point at the Ethyl Fynn Girl Guide hall at 2 Olympia Street in Beaconsfield.
- Tops and tags can be dropped off on Wednesdays from 17:30 to 18:45.
