The 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck Christchurch, New Zealand on Tuesday, February 22, toppled buildings, buckled streets, and caused hundreds of deaths. The Christchurch community needs our industry’s help. Our colleagues in New Zealand have appealed to the U.S. plastics industry for a very critical, specific need: portable toilets.
The public sewage system in the impacted area may not be operable for more than a year. This is a dire sanitation problem that will quickly become a public health crisis if we do not offer assistance.
Manufactured largely from polyethylene, portable toilets are a specific need that our industry is uniquely qualified to meet.
Here’s How You Can Help
The plastics and chemical industries have lent a generous hand with both monetary contributions and in-kind donations of the supplies that plastics companies manufacture: bottled water, water purification chemicals and kits, PVC pipe to rebuild water and sanitation systems, water storage containers and other building supplies, personal care products, medical supplies and even prosthetic limbs to victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, 2004 tsunami and earthquakes in Asia Pacific, as well as victims of hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Ike on the U.S. Gulf Coast.
The Christchurch earthquake is no different and SPI is spearheading an industry-wide effort to produce and ship 2,500 portable toilets to New Zealand. While one portable toilet manufacturer has already graciously offered to manufacture and ship 50 units at no cost, the rest of the industry needs to help fund the overall effort. Bill Carteux is appealing to fellow SPI members to raise the $1.5 million – in both cash donations and in-kind contributions of resin and colorant. 100% of your donation will be used directly for this effort’s production and shipment costs only.
Act Now: Quick, Easy Ways to Participate
Please click the "Donate" button to securely make a donation using a credit card. If you wish to make a cash or in-kind donation directly without going through the website, please call Susan Douglas, at 202.974.5224 or email her at sdouglas@plasticsindustry.org.
Thank you for supporting the plastics industry and the people of New Zealand in this humanitarian effort.
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