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The Citizen

School turns plastic waste into wheelchairs

Since the beginning of the year, Trinityhouse Little Falls (THLF) has been collecting plastic bottle tops as part of a recycling drive, and it has turned into something bigger than they expected, as they have recently handed over 226kg to the Tops and Tags for Wheelchairs organisation. The programme works by exchanging recycled plastic bottle tops for wheelchairs, which are then donated to people who need mobility support. According to Gill Gray, a foundation phase teacher at THLF who co-ordinated the project, the school's involvement is part of a broader environmental education programme run in partnership with the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA). 'There were no set goals when we started,' Gill says. 'Our aim was just to fill one wheelie bin. We didn't expect to collect over 200kg in our first drop-off.' The success of the collection drive came down to participation from across the school. Bins were placed at the entrance to make drop-offs easy, and reminders were given during assemblies. Learners helped weigh, pack, and load the bottle tops for delivery, and families played a big role in bringing in large quantities of plastic. 'This was a team effort. Learners, staff and families got involved,' Gill further explains. As a WESSA Eco-School, THLF introduces a new environmental project each year, and the bottle top project is one of several recycling activities at the school. THLF also collects white paper and recently launched its Eco-Brick project, where learners and families pack soft plastics into bottles to be used as building materials. A competition is currently underway to see which class can make the most Eco-Bricks. Gill expresses that the most rewarding part of the initiative was knowing that their efforts would help provide wheelchairs to people in need. 'This project showed learners that recycling isn't just about the environment – it can change lives too. Every bottle top counts.' The collection of bottle tops will continue throughout the year, and the school plans to keep growing its recycling projects. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!