Use Bottle Caps to Eradicate Polio
Rotarian Rainer Späth approaches a box in the entrance to his local supermarket in Wertinger, Germany. Using a small shovel, he transfers piles of plastic bottle caps to a yellow sack. The 69-year-old retiree has not resorted to garbage collection, rather he is participating a service project initiated by the Rotary Club of Dillingen a.d. Donau, Germany. In addition to the bottle caps, the Rotarians are collecting plastic lids, drink packs, and tubes in the region. These plastics are more valuable due to the amount of oil they contain as opposed to other plastics such as the rest of the bottle. Rainer’s Rotary Club is using the proceeds in Rotary International’s efforts to end polio.
Rainer Späth and his team are satisfied with the success of the bottle cap collection. "In the period from mid-November to 1 January, we collected about 23,000 caps in Wertingen," says the Past District Governor. The Club had initially set up collection boxes at several supermarkets and beverage markets without any lids which resulted in empty vodka bottles getting left in the boxes. After adding lids to the boxes, they have received less contamination with paper tissues, receipts, and plastic being the largest offenders.
PDG Rainer recently transported 34 sacks with a weight of 214 kilograms (478 pounds) to a plastic recycler. Using the proceeds, he reports, "We have financed 100 vaccinations against polio." This project is being expanded across Rotary District 1841. As result of a story printed in another newspaper, stores in Lauingen and Dillingen started collecting the desired plastic. Collection boxes have been set up in the elementary and secondary school, vocational school, and indoor swimming pool in neighboring Höchstädt. Area Rotaractors are helping in the rural districts of Dillingen and Günzburg.
The project is expected to run at least until the middle of the year. PDG Rainer is pleased that at least 100 vaccinations have been funded through this project. As Club Service Project Director Dr. Uta-Maria Kastner points out, "Only by consistently vaccinating all children polio can be completely eradicated." Rotarians around the world need to continue to find new ways to fund our polio eradication efforts.
Source: http://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/dillingen/Mit-Flaschendeckeln-die-Kinderlaehmung-ausrotten-id44021876.html