BuaNews (Tshwane)
Michael Appel
7 September 2007
Soweto — Willard Batteries has embarked on a recycling and tree planting initiative in Soweto, to promote and support this year's Arbour Week.
A programme introduced by Willard Batteries is showing South Africans that scrap batteries can and should be recycled.
Contrary to popular belief that old car batteries are dirty and useless, over 90 percent of a scrap battery can be recycled and used in the production of new batteries.
The savings made through the recycling initiative is being channelled by Willard into tree planting as part of the company's environmental "carbon footprint."
National environmental campaign Indalo Yethu is supporting Willard's initiative, since it complements Indalo Yethu's mission to popularise the notion that environmentally sound practices bring tangible economic and social benefits.
During Arbour Week, Willard Batteries and Indalo Yethu spent the day at Tiyimiseni Primary School in Meadowlands, Soweto where they planted 20 trees in support if the Food and Trees for Africa Urban Greening Programme.
Indalo Yethu's basic principle follows the three R's - Re-use, Reduce and Recycle.
Indalo Yethu Chief Executive Officer Zandile Nzalo said: "This [the three R's] is what the Willard Batteries initiative embraces - and we want to encourage other businesses from various sectors to seek creative ways to positively impact both on the environment and on their own operations."
She added that partnerships and collaborative efforts are an example of the collective action necessary to move South Africans towards an eco-caring society.
"At Indalo Yethu, we promote environmentally conscious living as a way to improve health and lifestyle - in addition to the economic benefits that can be derived from practicing the three R's," said Ms Nzalo.
With over 90 percent of a scrap lead-acid battery being recoverable, consumers are urged to adopt a habit of exchanging their old batteries when they go to purchase new ones.
Funds raised by Willard Batteries will go towards supporting the Urban Greening Programme, which includes urban management, urban agriculture, permaculture and urban forestry.
Chief Executive Officer of Willard Batteries Corne Strydom said: "Willard Batteries has processes in place to run the recycling programme, and we are delighted at the response we're receiving from our customers.
"Their support for this vital initiative is what has brought us to Tiyimiseni Primary School today and allowed us to improve the community's environment."
In South Africa, Arbour Day was first celebrated in 1983 as a way to raise awareness of the value of trees in our society.
In 1999, the government extended the celebration of Arbour Day to National Arbour Week, celebrated annually from 1 to 7 September.
This year it is marked under the theme: "Plant a tree - Grow our future".
National Arbour Week (Iviki Lezihlahla) serves to promote awareness for the need to plant and maintain indigenous trees throughout South Africa, especially for the many disadvantaged communities who often live in barren areas.
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