Recycling for Wheelchairs

There’s a reason why travelling somewhere new, getting your first car, or watching little legs learn to walk feels so exciting. People have always celebrated mobility - being able to move around on our own makes us feel more independent and free. So when somebody can’t walk, run, or play, a wheelchair can be life-changing. ?

Millions of people of all ages and wheels of life use wheelchairs to get around, but sadly, many South African families can’t afford them and the government issued wheelchairs have a long waiting list. That’s where recycling comes in. We’ve partnered with a local charity to raise money for wheelchairs through recycling - cleaning up the environment as we go.?

Changing People’s Lives One Chair at a Time?

The Sweethearts Foundation is a registered South African NPO that fights for people and the planet, combining social and environmental charity with its Tags to Chairs initiative. The Sweethearts collect plastic bread tags and bottle tops from across the country, carefully rinsing and sorting them into boxes and bags ready for recycling.?

Once they have enough tops and tags, they send them to dedicated plastic recycling companies that melt and mould them into something new. Bread tags are made from polystyrene and bottle tops are made from polypropylene, which recyclers can turn into seed trays, picture frames, furniture, and even bricks to build new homes!?

The recycling companies offer cash in exchange for every kilogram of bread tags and bottle tops they receive - 100% of which goes toward buying wheelchairs for people who need them most. ?

Stop! Don’t Throw That Away?

Your fridge or grocery cupboard contains valuable plastics we can use to raise money for wheelchairs. As a general rule, the Sweethearts only accept plastics #2, #5 and 6 - that’s the little recycling number you’ll find in the lid or on the label. Here are some examples of what you can and can’t collect: ?

• Bread tags: any colour from any loaf - even broken ones will do!
• Water, cooldrink, and juice bottle lids.
• Lids from milk bottles or cartons.
• Pull-up lids from Energade, Pump water bottles, etc. (but not the clear plastic top that fits over the mouthpiece)
• NO metal lids - they can damage recycling machinery.
• NO plastic lids with the paper filling inside the top.?

Remember to rinse everything and separate bottle tops from bread tags before you drop them in a collection box! That way, volunteers can sort them faster.?

Start Collecting and Give the Gift of Movement?

Every bread tag and bottle top counts, and anyone can start collecting! We encourage schools, churches, offices, community groups, families, and anyone who buys bread and milk to get involved. The Sweethearts Foundation even supplies a graphic poster and printable labels for your collection boxes so you can place them around your area and collect tops and tags faster.?

Collectors can deliver bread tags and bottle tops to any collection point in South Africa - this interactive map will help you find one near you. You can register as an official collector or collection point on the Sweethearts Foundation’s website.?

Small Deeds Make a Big Difference ?

Putting a bread tag aside instead of throwing it away takes less than a second, but its impact lasts a lifetime. Collecting these tiny pieces of plastic keeps them out of the environment, where they can lie for hundreds of years. Keeping them in a safe place means they can’t wind up in our rivers and oceans or threaten the fish, birds, and animals that live there.?

Plus, recycling bread tags and bottle tops helps create jobs in the waste industry and boosts South African businesses that make products from recycled materials.?

Recycle for Wheelchairs initiative turns trash into hope for people with disabilities. Wheelchairs mean children can socialise with their friends, the elderly can spend time outside, and everyone has more freedom, confidence, and comfort. A well-fitting wheelchair can drastically improve a person’s quality of life, expanding their world beyond the walls of their home.?

Know Somebody Who Needs a Wheelchair??

The Sweethearts Foundation has given over 500 people the gift of movement thanks to the kind collectors who keep bread tags and bottle tops out of the dustbin. The charity works with doctors, wheelchair specialists, and occupational therapists to make sure each wheelchair it donates is the perfect fit for its recipient. ?

No matter the size or type of chair you or your loved one needs, the Sweethearts Foundation can make it happen. You can apply for a wheelchair on their website.?

Tying It All Together?

Turning bread tags and bottle tops into wheelchairs is a group effort with many moving parts. From collecting, sorting, and transporting the tops and tags to organising wheelchair handovers and raising awareness on social media, eWASA helps facilitate the process every step of the way. We connect collectors with recyclers and mobility experts to help the project run smoothly and get more people moving sooner.?

If you’d like to support the Recycling for Wheelchairs initiative as part of your corporate social responsibility or EPR scheme, contact us to find out how we can help you. We can also help independent volunteer groups find buyers for the bread tags and bottle tops they collect.