Recycling pioneers rewarded

The Global Recycling Foundation has unveiled its ‘Recycling Heroes 2023’ to mark Global Recycling Day on 18 March.

Each of the 10 ‘heroes’ receives US$ 1 000 (EU 950) while ten others get US$ 250 as ‘creative Innovators’. All were selected from nominations received by the organisation and this year the creativity focus has been on the 3 Rs – Reuse, Reduce & Recycle – promoting resource efficiency, waste reduction and what GRF calls the ‘Seventh Resource’ – essential raw materials for industry.

Ranjit Baxi, GRF founding president, said: ‘The creativity of this year’s winners shows what we all can do to promote recycling when every regulatory and financial obstacle seems to have been placed in their way. When other priorities are confronting individuals and businesses, it is inspiring to see what our award winners are achieving around the world.’

The heroes are:

RecycleMich, Austria: The country’s first recycling app, rewarding users for correctly collecting and recycling PET bottles, aluminium cans, and other plastic packaging.

St Vincent de Paul Society, Australia: Vinnies in Canberra/Goulburn opening of its first retail recycling shop in 1964 and now operates a warehouse and 27 shops.

Green Deal, The Netherlands: From this year coffee pods and tea bags may be put at biodegradable waste. The objectives have been achieved with 97% coffee pods and 93% teabags.

Johnny Tungsubutra, Thailand: Johnny (16) is secretary of the Bangkok Patana School’s Student Environment Committee.

Finnsøn baby changing bags, United Kingdom: A small business making baby bags out of recycled PET.

Project Mumbai, India: ‘The Mumbai Plastic Recyclothon’ encourages citizens to donate plastic waste which gets picked up from the respective drop locations for recycling.

Packages Group, Pakistan: Reduces its ecological footprint by reducing waste, investing in renewable energy and managing natural resources more efficiently.

Catalina Integrated National High School, Philippines: Personalised emergency pillow made from recycled materials such as plastics and sweet wrappers.

Victoria Imaji, Nigeria: Victoria champions and advocates environmental sustainability and has helped in promoting environmental engagement with several secondary school.

AECOM CSR Volunteer Team, China: Sent 10 idle computers to a children’s home to support children needing online courses.

The creative innovators are:

Svetlana Marusenko, Hungary: For raising awareness for the University of Pécs’ carbon footprint and teaching fellow students how to recycle.

Why Idea, Tanzania: A change-making project which aims to recycle wastepaper to make reliable, durable, high quality, unique and environmentally friendly products.

Green buddies, India: A non-profit organisation making nature-based playgrounds using trees wood and other natural materials.

Urembo Africa Art Gallery, Uganda: A centre for the arts with programmes including: TRASH-TO-CASH and Friends with Nature.

Hugo Repáň, Germany: Hugo, 22, has also partnered with others to install waste bins that looked like cigarette butts to prevent discourage other rubbish going into them.

African Clean up Initiative, Nigeria: A non-governmental organisation running community and corporate clean ups and awareness campaigns.

Woodfarm High School, UK: Returns plastic bottles and cans from the school to a local supermarket to recover a 5p voucher for each item recycled. This is used to buy food and supplies the school food bank.

LCD Group, Italy: Creates unique works of art using various scrap metal to make decorative table lamps.

Original Home, The Netherlands: Uses sustainable materials, low impact production to support people in the poorest areas of the world. Prize money will be used to help clean up beaches in Bali, Indonesia.

Eric Logan, Future Directions, England: Future Directions supports people with complex needs. During the coronavirus lockdowns in the UK, Eric he drew a picture of a ‘Recycling Man’ (reusing cardboard from a cereal box as his canvas) saying he wanted to show people how to recycle.