Plastic should never become waste, since it is a valuable resource that should remain in the circular economy, and be re-used, and recycled into new products. Some 65 000 people find informal employment in the plastic recycling sector in South Africa. The heart-beat of this industry are the waste-pickers or so called reclaimers, who work tirelessly to pick, collect, and sort waste plastic.

Covid-19, has had an unprecedented impact on all sectors in the country, and the recycling industry has not been spared. Under level-3, the recycling sector has been able to open up all of its activities. To ensure that the waste pickers and reclaimers are protected, Safripol recently sponsored 1500 face-shields to PETCO, the South African PET recycling company. 200 of these face-shields were donated to Green Corridors NPC, to help the 130 people involved in the Green Corridors projects which protect and maintain green spaces in the City. One of the interventions being implemented is the removal and repurposing of mainly plastic and glass waste.