Companies - get your own (throwaways) back!

FINALLY! Manufacturers will be forced to take responsibility for recovering their products or product packaging and getting it recycled. From cardboard boxes to electronic goods, lightbulbs, all forms of plastic and glass jars and bottles, the manufacturers or importers will have to make a plan to get it back from consumers after they’ve done with it, so that it can be recycled or reused instead. There’s literally no time to waste - landfill space is fast running out while currently just 10% of the things we throw out which can be recycled is actually being recycled. They will have to start new programmes, set up collection points, do regular audits and achieve stringent new targets in terms of new amendments to the National Environmental Management’s Waste Act. Wendy Knowler provides insight on this, as well as the risky and expensive ATMs withdrawals. Despite a dramatic swing towards digital banking, South Africa is still a long way away from a cashless society, with more than half of the population still transacting in cash daily. But many people are unwittingly paying far too much to move their cash around. What is the cause? We find out on Consumerwatch.