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Monday 9th April, 2007 Posted: 21:07
CIT (02:07 +1 GMT)
The John Gray
Recyclers are asking the public to help recycle plastic six–pack ring beverage can holders.
The collection
of plastic six–pack holders helps to preserve the environment by keeping the plastic holders out of the George Town
landfill, said Department of Environmental Health Public Education and Promotions Officer Tania Johnson. Once they get there,
they take many years to decompose.
John Gray Recyclers, winners of the 2006 Jiminy Cricket
Environmentality Challenge. Photo: Submitted |
“One
of the spin–off benefits of recycling the holders is that it helps prevent harm to turtles and other marine life that
may become entangled in them if they are not disposed of properly,” Mrs. Johnson said.
The recycled
holders are put to several uses.
JGR Coordinator
Christine Whitehead said Bodden Beverages reuses the six–pack rings.
“The
beverage company converts 12–pack cases of soda into the more popular six–pack cases. This reduces the number
of holders the company orders from the US. Sometimes the company does not have to order holders at all.”
The company’s
employees also benefit since recycled holders are much more flexible and easier to manipulate than the imported ones.
The John Gray
Recyclers also contribute to global environmental preservation by sending some of the used six–pack holders to the United
States where recycling enthusiast, Mrs. Iris Brand of Georgia, reuses the holders to create snowflakes. She initially contacted
the recyclers through their website www.johngrayrecyclers.org/ last year.
Anyone interested
in making snowflakes or other works of recycled art may download a copy of Mrs Brand’s book America’s Buried Treasures
at http://www.abtn.com/books/
She has dedicated
50 per cent of all proceeds to the John Gray Recyclers’ global environmental/educational projects.
The recyclers
are planning a Cayman Islands version of Mrs. Brand’s book and are seeking assistance or sponsorship for this project.
Individuals or businesses wanting to assist may contact Ms Whitehead at johngrayrecyclers@hotmail.com.
People may
also assist by collecting and dropping six–pack holders either at Bodden Beverages or at the high school. Those opting
for drop–off at the school should address their packages to the John Gray High School in care of Marguerita Thompson,
secretary. Those unable to drop off packages may make arrangements for collection by emailing the club.
More information
about this and other John Gray Recyclers’ projects can be found at www.johngrayrecyclers.org/ . | 