Thousands of kids receive new school shoes

As part of efforts to reduce medical waste, Adcock Ingram Critical Care and Netcare started a project that recycles PVC bags into soles for school shoes.

Adcock's Natasha Pillay says every child at the Masakhane-Tswelopele Primary School in Zandspruit received new shoes on Tuesday.

The school was chosen as it is totally depended on the government for funds.

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"A pair of shoes is a practical gift which protects children's feet from rough ground, dirt and cold, making the experience of learning and playing at school far more pleasant. We need more collaboration and recycling projects aimed at cleaning up our city and using repurposed plastics to provide much-needed, cost-effective products for disadvantaged communities," Pillay explains. 

She says they have located blue coloured bins in hospitals for the sole purpose of segregating uncontaminated, used PVC drip bags.

"Nurses were trained, and the PVC waste material was collected by recyclers who then sold it to a company that uses this highest grade and quality PVC plastic to make soles for shoes," Pillay explains.

The plastic can also be transformed into gumboots, PVC flooring and various products.