The education of our youth lies at the heart of preserving the planet and creating environmental awareness, therefore we aim to empower kids with the knowledge and principles of recycling.

The Schools Project was initiated in 2009 as part of our Company's social responsibility campaign and has since signed up 58 schools in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro. Understanding the nature of kids, the project was built on the following principle:

“Tell me and I'll forget, show me and I may not remember, involve me and I'll understand.”

The Schools Project visit schools to teach the learners about recycling & waste separation not only by show & tell, but by involving them in the process. For the session, the kids are encouraged to bring recyclable materials from home, which they get to distribute in the waste separation area after attending the theoretical info session. This fun activity involves the participation of the kids and aids their understanding and learning experience.  The participating schools benefit from
the free collection of recyclable materials and the rebate received from The Waste Trade Company for the recyclables. The funds are usually put towards buying sporting equipment, upgrades or even creating soup kitchens in the underprivileged communities.

This initiative has been a huge success and we are in the process of preparing our site to offer school’s educational field trips to our depot. The kids would then have a first hand experience of the magnitude of waste processed per day, how they are separated and possibly include an exercise of making their own piece of recycled paper.

WANT TO GET YOUR SCHOOL INVOLVED?
Contact Gillian Furby on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Groenspoor Press Release

MEDIA RELEASE - SOUTH AFRICA
September 2011

Leaders Join Forces to Increase Community’s Green Footprint

As leader in environmental excellence Goodyear has put its money where its mouth is by launching the first community environmental project of its kind in the Eastern Cape yesterday in partnership with The Waste Trade Company and Die Burger.
This initiative, dubbed Project Groenspoor (green track), was launched with a suitable youthful logo at the Albertyn Primary School in Uitenhage  - the home of  Goodyear’s only tyre manufacturing plant in Africa.

“The goal of Project Groenspoor is to educate the community via schools regarding the value of recycling and the important contribution each individual can make towards a healthier environment.  Our ultimate goal is to reduce the waste going to landfill. Our short term goal is to reduce it with 200 tons via schools in the metropole during the next 18 months. Goodyear is the only tyre manufacturer worldwide who maintains a ‘zero waste to landfill’ policy – the company has followed this policy since 2008, says Lize Hayward Goodyear Group Public Relations Manager.

The project will be characterized by three different phases of three months each during the first year.  The first phase will entail a competition among schools, starting beginning September.  The school that generates the most waste, will walk away with a prestigious floating trophy, a cash prize and a set of locally produced Goodyear passenger- or 4x4 tyres.  Ten deserving learners across various schools will be dubbed Groenspoor Stars and will be rewarded with certificates and different prizes.

During the second phase the schools will compete for making the best pieces of art from recyclable material. The last phase of the year will include an essay and colouring-in competition among schools. The project will be evaluated after the first year and new initiatives will be identified for the future. The waste collection will however continue throughout all the phases and into the future.
“We already have 58 schools on board, but we want to get all the local schools to participate – there are more than 270 schools in PE and Uitenhage.
“We want to share and help execute our winning strategies among the communities so that we can create good habits and a healthier environment together for all to enjoy.  The funds generated from the sales of the waste, will be ploughed back into the schools’ pockets. With Die Burger as our media partner our message will be reinforced, reaching more people on a regular basis,” says Lize.

The Waste Trade Company

The Waste Trade Company was established in PE 13 years ago and has since then serviced many big companies and 58 schools.  The company will be driving the physical implementation at the schools from providing the bins to collecting, monitoring, sorting, pressing and selling the waste. 
“One of our most important goals is to establish a recycling culture among consumers and manufacturers. That is why we are involved in various community projects ,” says Kay Hardy, General Manager of The Waste Trade Company.

Goodyear

As an environmentally conscious corporate citizen boasting many breakthroughs in this regard, Goodyear is the ideal anchor partner to drive the Groenspoor initiative to the local community. 
Goodyear’s pioneering environmental management efforts were applauded by various key role players in South Africa. Not only was Goodyear awarded the Best Environmental Excellence Programme in the South African transport industry in 2007, but it was also the recipient of the Eastern Cape Top Green Organisations Award in 2010, endorsed by the Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs and the Institute of Waste Management.

Info: Die Burger
Issued by:
Lize Hayward, Group Public Relations Manager, Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Holdings (Pty) Ltd
117 Prospect Road, Walmer (Port Elizabeth), 6070, South Africa, www.goodyear.co.za or www.goodyear.com, Tel: 041-5055-421, Mobile: 082-824-5142, Fax: 086-614-0368