According to Douw Steyn, director sustainability of Plastics|SA, this year's competition again attracted entries from across South Africa: "The aim of this competition was to create awareness of and educate learners on the positive attributes of plastics and the responsible use and disposal thereof. As future custodians of the earth, they have the chance to make a difference in their homes, schools and environment."
Schools, organisations and learners from cities and rural towns were keen to get their fellow pupils and communities involved in cleaning and recycling initiatives where they work, live and play. "This year, the organisers were once again impressed with how industrious, creative and motivated the young people can be when it comes to bringing about real and lasting change in their environments," said Steyn.
As one of the prizes of the competition, the winning entrant from the winning school and a teacher were treated to the best that the Mother City has to offer. After arriving in Cape Town, the group enjoyed trips to Robben Island and Seal Island, Cape Point, the Two Oceans Aquarium, V&A Waterfront and Monkey Valley Resort. In order to gain first-hand experience of the recycling process, the learners visited the City of Cape Town's Integrated Waste Management Facility in Kraaifontein and experienced the recycling process at Atlantic Plastics Recycling.
Schools, organisations and learners could enter one of the following four categories in this year's competition:
The national winners in this year's competition were:
Plastics|SA's Youth Ambassador and Aqua Angel, 12-year-old Nikita van der Merwe, also joined the winners on their Cape Town weekend and shared some of her experiences and findings as a canoeist paddling the dams and rivers in KZN, monitoring litter.