People are being invited to produce objects of commercial value from recyclable materials by participating in an annual recycling fair next month.

Launched three years ago by the Solid Waste and Cleaning Agency (SWAC), the recycling fair encourages both children and adults to find innovative ways to make use of recycled items that would otherwise be thrown away as garbage.

Cliff Gonzalves, technical manager for SWAC, is calling on potential participants to produce valuable and functional items which could be kept and used, instead of hastily patched-up bits and pieces which would just be thrown away.

"The more effort they put in recycling, the more the chance they find a market for their products and in the end the less garbage will be dumped on the landfill," Mr Gonzalves said.

Mr Gonzalves did say, however, that based on the quality of products in previous years, people have begun to take the fair more seriously and were putting good efforts into their creations.

Although past editions had two main categories, this year’s fair, scheduled for September 27, will feature one open category in which both adults and children can take part.

The fair is being sponsored entirely by the Seychelles Marketing Board, which will award cash prizes to the best submissions – a first prize of R2,500, second prize of R1,500 and R1,000 for third place.

The products will be judged on originality of the concept and creativity and the artistic and aesthetic aspects of the object presented. Criteria is also based on the intelligent use of non-biodegradable materials and professionalism and presentation in terms of finishing and display.

Registration forms to participate are available at SWAC's office on Francis Rachel Street, on the premises formerly occupied by the Seychelles Licensing Authority (SLA) offices. 

SWAC has announced that the final date to submit the registration forms is September 12.  The fair’s venue has not yet been determined.

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