Retiring from nursing, she wanted to help others and was also passionate about the environment. Mary was aware that the majority of people in need of wheelchairs in South Africa were unable to afford to buy their own.
Mary Honeybun
She came up with the idea of recycling plastic to raise funds to buy wheelchairs and found a plastic moulding company, Zibo Containers, prepared to take bread tags. In South Africa (but unfortunately not in Australia), Bread Tags for Wheelchairs recycle bottle tops as well as bread tags, and have just funded their 800th wheelchair!
In Australia
After a while, Australians got wind of the program. People with South African connections started taking tags with them when they visited and some people posted bread tags. Jodie Falco at 1079 Life radio station in Adelaide promoted Bread Tags for Wheelchairs on air and the tags started flowing in.
Jodie (left) Collecting
Tags in Transit
By late 2018 there was sufficient interest across Australia to set up a national collection network. Jenny Cooper, a South African who had migrated to Australia in the 1990’s, took up the challenge, setting up a Facebook page, contacting those who had expressed interest, and creating a map of collection points and some promotional materials.
The response was amazing, with the network very soon growing rapidly. In February 2019 we engaged with a local recycler, Transmutation, in Robe, SA. By early 2020, there were 350 collection points in every state and territory and 100kg+ of bread tags being recycled every month. Recycling of 250kg of bread tags funds an entry level wheelchair, although some cost more, depending on the client’s needs.
The network of volunteers continues to grow – we have collectors, collection point hosts, state coordinators, colour sorters and people who help with transport. We are supported by schools, child care centres, small businesses, local councils, churches, community centres, hospitals and aged care facilities. What a wonderful community this has become!
Our Story
In South Africa
Mary Honeybun started Bread Tags for Wheelchairs in South Africa in 2006.
Retiring from nursing, she wanted to help others and was also passionate about the environment. Mary was aware that the majority of people in need of wheelchairs in South Africa were unable to afford to buy their own.
She came up with the idea of recycling plastic to raise funds to buy wheelchairs and found a plastic moulding company, Zibo Containers, prepared to take bread tags. In South Africa (but unfortunately not in Australia), Bread Tags for Wheelchairs recycle bottle tops as well as bread tags, and have just funded their 800th wheelchair!
In Australia
After a while, Australians got wind of the program. People with South African connections started taking tags with them when they visited and some people posted bread tags. Jodie Falco at 1079 Life radio station in Adelaide promoted Bread Tags for Wheelchairs on air and the tags started flowing in.
By late 2018 there was sufficient interest across Australia to set up a national collection network. Jenny Cooper, a South African who had migrated to Australia in the 1990’s, took up the challenge, setting up a Facebook page, contacting those who had expressed interest, and creating a map of collection points and some promotional materials.
The response was amazing, with the network very soon growing rapidly. In February 2019 we engaged with a local recycler, Transmutation, in Robe, SA. By early 2020, there were 350 collection points in every state and territory and 100kg+ of bread tags being recycled every month. Recycling of 250kg of bread tags funds an entry level wheelchair, although some cost more, depending on the client’s needs.
The network of volunteers continues to grow – we have collectors, collection point hosts, state coordinators, colour sorters and people who help with transport. We are supported by schools, child care centres, small businesses, local councils, churches, community centres, hospitals and aged care facilities. What a wonderful community this has become!
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1,136kg of Aussie bread tags recycled to date
Bread Tags for Wheelchairs South Africa
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