Cities across the world are preparing for Global Recycling Day 2020

04.03.2020

Global Recycling Day, taking place on 18 March 2020, has already inspired 24 (and counting) organisations and communities across the globe to organise events and initiatives to raise awareness of the importance of recycling and the ways we can turn “waste” into a valuable resource.

From educational talks in schools to beach clean-ups and performances for local communities, there is a wide range of events taking place, alongside the worldwide #RecyclingHeroes competition, which is accepting entries until 8 March 2020.

The competition recognises unsung individuals, business or communities that are setting examples and pushing boundaries with their recycling initiatives. 10 winners, each set to receive a US$ 1000 prize, are due to be announced on 18 March 2020.

Founding President of the Global Recycling Foundation, Ranjit Baxi, said: “We are proud that some of the most innovative individuals and recycling organisations around the world are joining us to make our third Global Recycling Day a real sucess. Reaching as many people as possible is crucial in spreading the word on the effects of climate change and how recycling can help. We need to collaborate with as many organisations as possible to combat the climate emergency together, and encourage them to get in touch with the Foundation to share their plans for the day with us.”

Below are details of some of the events and activities that are planned for Global Recycling Day 2020:

Abuja/Nigeria – Pick That Trash

Pick That Trash, an operational NGO focused on the environment, will be promoting recycling in schools. On 18 March 2020 Pick That Trash will visit the Government Secondary School, Maitama/FCT. Nigeria. Additionally, on 21 March 2020 Pick That Trash will visit Mosquito Village, Dakibiu, Jabi Upstair/FCT. Nigeria. The organisation is also planning clean-up activities to mark Global Recycling Day. Find out more at @pickthattrash

Bath and North East Somerset/UK

Bath and North East Somerset Council is inviting local residents to a series of events on 18 March where people can find out tips and tricks to help save the environment. These talks will take place across libraries in Bath, Keynsham and Midsomer Norton and the Bath Cloth Nappy Library will be on hand to help parents and carers with making the switch from disposables. Find out more at: https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk

Belfast/Northern Ireland – Cap Arts Centre

On 21 March 2020, Cap Arts Centre in Belfast will be organising a show to celebrate Global Recycling Day. This will include poetry, dance, music and fashion. Find out more at: https://www.capartscentre.com/

Bhubaneswar/India – National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) & Youth for Sustainable Impact

Youth for Sustainable Impact is partnering with the National Institute of Fashion Technology in India to celebrate Global Recycling Day on both 18 and 19 March. There will be school tours, awareness programmes and a competition for students to create products from waste by recycling them (the best product will win a cash prize and will be up for sale).

Bristol/UK – AECOM

AECOM, an international infrastucure firm, is celebrating Global Recycling Day by showcasing a documentary called “A Plastic Tide”, supplying plastic-free refreshments and conducting a waste audit of the bins around the office.

Bulgaria – BG Be Active

BG Be Active, an organisation dedicated to positive social change sustainbile development in Bulgaria, is starting a national campaign and organising local events in several Bulgarian cities together with local grassroot organisations to promote recycling on March 18. Find out more at: http://www.bgbeactive.org/

Dubai/UAE – Bureau of Middle East Recycling (BMR)

BRM will be marking Global Recycling Day by reaching out to local schools across Dubai, educating school children on the importance of recycling for a sustainable planet. BMR has chosen four schools to educate and will be tree planting in one of Dubai’s industrial districts.

Ilmenau/Germany – CFF

CFF works to develop natural cellulose fibres across a range of industries. To celebrate Global Recycling Day 2020, CFF will be working with a local school (Staatliche Regelschule Gräfinau-Angstedt) encouraging students and teachers to collect wastepaper that CFF can then use for their producing process. Find out more at: www.cff.de

Johannesburg/South Africa – Department of Environmental Affairs

The Department of Environmental Affairs is organising activations to celebrate Global Recycling Day in Orange Farm, Johannesburg. There will be a march with school children highlighting illegal waste dumping and, in the lead up to the march, work completed by Lesedi la Kreste Primary School in Orange Farm will be showcased. Pupils have also created eco-bricks from 2L PET bottles and filled them with waste material. These eco bricks will be used to build school benches.

There will also be a clean-up campaign in one of the areas close to the school on Global Recycling Day. Once the area has been cleaned up it will become a vegetable garden for the local community.

Lagos/Nigeria – U-Recycle Initiative

This year, U-Recycle Initiative is organising a press conference on 18 March 2020 from 7.30am – 8.30am at the National Stadium in Lagos. This will be followed by an awareness walk to mark Global Recycling Day from 10am – 2pm, which will start at the National Stadium in Lagos.

On Thursday 19 March, U-Recycle Initiative will be doing a tour of three local schools in Lagos, with the aim of giving talks to educate them on recycling. Find out more at: www.urecycleinitiative.org

London/UK

To celebrate Global Recycling Day in London, the Global Recycling Foundation will be holding an event at the House of Commons to recognise UK #RecyclingHeroes and announce plans for a new project in Africa.

Middleburg/South Africa

Global Recycling Foundation Ambassador Ilse Botha, also an environmental and sustainability consultant based in Middleburgh, is organising a host of activities to celebrate Global Recycling Day. This includes:

• A Global Recycling Day night race for students at Kanonkop High School

• A video on recycling to be shown to students at Kanonkop High School

• Sponsorship of recycling bins for Gansiekeur Pre-Primary School and Hoër Tegniese Skool Middelburg

Oxford/UK – Sobell House Hospice

In recognition of Global Recycling Day, Oxford Instruments is asking staff members to donate one item every day in March to sell in Sobell House Hospice shops. As well as helping the local hospice raise funds, this initiative also helps with local recycling. To find out more or get involved, please call 01865 857066.

Paris/France – FEDEREC

FEDEREC is running a poster competition for schools to take part in, with finalists work showcased in the Gallerie MR14 in Paris on 18 March 2020.

Portsmouth/UK – Portsmouth Music Hub

Portsmouth Music Hub has written a dedicated #RecyclingHeroes song for local children to sing on Global Recycling Day. This will be filmed and shared across their social media channels. They are also planning a Recycling Rumba.

South Yorkshire/UK – Danieli Centro Recycling

Danieli Centro Recycling in South Yorkshire is holding a ‘plogging’ (jogging and litter-picking) event in conjunction with a local school to celebrate Global Recycling Day. Danieli is also working with Wales High School in Sheffield to organise a litter pick up around the school and local area. Pupils will also have the chance to visit the Danieli Centro Recycling headquarters for an “Engineering in Action” session.

Ulaanbaatar/Mongolia – The Asia Foundation

On 18 March 2020, The Asia Foundation will be launching eight videos on the theme of recycling, including disposing of medicines correctly and re-using plastics and wood scraps.

The Asia Foundation will also be organising a one-month recycling challenge for its staff, where people are encouraged to bring recyclables from home. Find out more at: https://asiafoundation.org/

Washington/USA – Ranier Apparel

Ranier Apparel is organising a beach clean-up for locals on 21 March 2020 at the Purdy Sand Spit from 11am – 1pm. The aim is to collect as much waste and rubbish from the beach and dispose of it correctly. Find out more at: www.mandizmatter.com

Other organisations planning events across the world including the Dutch Embassy, the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) in Brussels and the Inland Importers and Consumers Association (ICCA) in Delhi. In addition, the following organisations are just a few supporting the Global Recycling Foundation’s #RecyclingHeroes competition:

• Exposucata – Brazil

• Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) – Washington D.C./USA

• BMRA – Rotherham/UK

For more information on how to get involved in this year’s Global Recycling Day, please contact info@globalrecyclingfoundation.org