Waste offers a great opportunity for any person, from any walk of life to make a means to feed themselves and improve their financial situation. Waste collection is often seen as an embarrassing occupation but it offers even those with the most humble skills and education to access the economy and provide an income for themselves and their family.

Developed countries such as the Netherlands and Sweden recycle up to 100 percent and more of their waste. Waste falls into the green economy category, which is an exciting industry that is growing rapidly every year. Our programme seeks to create opportunities for unskilled and unemployed persons to participate in the green economy in a manner that is dignified, safe and full of potential for growth. In South Africa, waste collectors – who are the bedrock of the green economy – are not afforded the labour rights and protection that is otherwise afforded to formalized employees.

Our programme identifies communities that can benefit economically from a recycling programme. Then we establish a buy-back centre in that area, and working with local stakeholders create opportunities for work and development.

Kerbside Collection

Our mission is to create dignified employment by establishing a network of waste collectors who perform kerbside collection in partnership with municipalities in residential and industrial areas. The benefit of these programmes is that they create new jobs and offer upskilling opportunities for collectors.

Working with businesses and organizations

We are always looking to work with businesses and institutions such as universities, schools and business complexes to establish recycling initiatives with them. We can design and manage the project, including the sourcing and training of waste collectors.

Get Involved

You can get involved with our recycling activities by completing the form on the right. There are different ways to become involved.

Recycling Collection Point
Individuals, businesses, schools and almost any entity can become suppliers of waste material for recycling. We will setup a collection schedule with you after you signup. We are able to collect from schools, apartment and commercial complexes, universities and events.

Waste Collector
Waste collectors are the human capital who visit recycling centres and find waste materials. Collectors are individual agents who are not formally employed by the recycling company.

So if you have some items that you want to recycle, get in touch with us. These are some of the items we accept

Electronics donation and recycling

Electronics donation and recycling is a great way to help conserve resources and natural materials. It is important to make sure you are donating and/or recycling electronics safely and correctly.

Why donate or recycle electronics

Electronic products are made from valuable resources and materials, including metals, plastics, and glass, all of which require energy to mine and manufacture. Donating or recycling consumer electronics conserves our natural resources and avoids air and water pollution, as well as greenhouse gas emissions that are caused by manufacturing virgin materials.

For example:

  • Recycling one million laptops saves the energy equivalent to the electricity used by more than 3,500 homes in a year.
  • For every million cell phones we recycle, nearly 16 thousand kilograms of copper, 350 kg of silver, 15 kg of gold and 33 kg of palladium can be recovered.
  • For your computer or laptop, consider upgrading the hardware or software instead of buying a brand new product.
  • Delete all personal information from your electronics.
  • If you prefer, we can remove your personal information from your device(s) for you.

Paper

Paper donation and recycling

Paper donation and recycling is a great way to help conserve resources and natural materials such as trees and water. It is important to make sure you are donating and/or recycling paper efficiently.

Why donate or recycle paper?

Paper and cadboard products are made from valuable resources and materials, all of which require energy to harvest and produce. Donating or recycling paper and cardboard conserves our natural resources and avoids air and water pollution, as well as greenhouse gas emissions that are caused by manufacturing virgin materials. Furthermore it means less trees are cut down and thus more trees absorb carbon in the atmosphere.

For example:

  • Plantation trees, from which paper is made, helps to absorb carbon dioxide from and release oxygen into the atmosphere. The trees, and thus paper and wood products, store this carbon as solid matter. By recycling paper, we can ensure that this carbon is kept out of the atmosphere for longer. If you do not recycle, paper will rot amongst other rubbish and emit gases such as methane and carbon dioxide.
  • Most of the recovered paper is used as raw material in paper mills, more than half of the country’s paper mills depend on recycled fibre and many of them use it as their only fibre source.
  • The total paper recovered in SA in 2012 was enough to fill 1,380 Olympic-size swimming pools.
  • Paper can be recycled at least seven times. New wood fibre from new timber is thus required to keep the paper cycle going.
  • Separate your paper materials as far as possible.
  • Make sure your paper products are not wet or damp

Plastic

Plastic recycling

Plastic is one of the biggest pollutants in the world right now. Only ±10% of all the plastic packaging produced is recycled, while 40% ends up in landfills, and a shocking 32% finds its way into the environment as ‘mismanaged plastic waste’. Even scarier is the study that confirms that by the year 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.

Why donate or recycle plastic?

Plastic is used in a number of industrial and personal applications including packaging of food, consignments, toys; it’s used in the manufacture of appliances and devices and is basically the most pervasive product on the Earth.

Donating or recycling plastics conserves our natural resources and avoids air and water pollution, as well as greenhouse gas emissions that are caused by manufacturing virgin materials. Furthermore recycling plastic means it avoids going to landfills where it takes thousands of years to disintegrate into the Earth.

For example:

  • In 2016, 1.144 million tons of post-consumer plastic waste ended up in official waste streams.
  • South Africa mechanically recycled 309 520 tons of plastics in 2016
  • Recycling a single plastic bottle can conserve enough energy to light a 60 watt bulb for up to six hours
  • Recycling one kg of polyethylene saves approximately 2 litres of crude oil and 1½ kg of CO2.
  • Although in 2016 41.8% plastics were recovered, 667 000 tons still went to landfill.
  • The average person generates 2,04 kg of rubbish every day – about ¾ tons of solid waste per year.
  • Separate your waste from other types of waste, i.e. paper, food, tin.
  • If you are able to separate your plastic by type, compress it as much as possible to save space and reduce its weight.
  • If you cannot separate your plastics, we will send our collectors to process the waste.

Steel

Non-ferrous metals

Non-ferrous metals include tin and aluminium products used mostly in the packaging industry, such as foil and drinking cans.

Apart from the vast amount of landfill that has been saved, the living environment of all southern Africans has been improved substantially. 

Litter, particularly from discarded food and beverage packaging, is a major contributor to unhealthy infestations and urban decline.

Why donate or recycle equipment?

Plastic is used in a number of industrial and personal applications including packaging of food, consignments, toys; it’s used in the manufacture of appliances and devices and is basically the most pervasive product on the Earth.

Donating or recycling plastics conserves our natural resources and avoids air and water pollution, as well as greenhouse gas emissions that are caused by manufacturing virgin materials. Furthermore recycling plastic means it avoids going to landfills where it takes thousands of years to disintegrate into the Earth.

For example:

  • In 2016, 1.144 million tons of post-consumer plastic waste ended up in official waste streams.
  • South Africa mechanically recycled 309 520 tons of plastics in 2016
  • Recycling a single plastic bottle can conserve enough energy to light a 60 watt bulb for up to six hours
  • Recycling one kg of polyethylene saves approximately 2 litres of crude oil and 1½ kg of CO2.
  • Although in 2016 41.8% plastics were recovered, 667 000 tons still went to landfill.
  • The average person generates 2,04 kg of rubbish every day – about ¾ tons of solid waste per year.
  • Separate your waste from other types of waste, i.e. paper, food, tin.
  • If you are able to separate your plastic by type, compress it as much as possible to save space and reduce its weight.
  • If you cannot separate your plastics, we will send our collectors to process the waste.

Other

What else can I donate?

There are a great number of items that can be recycled; such as rubber tyres, wood pallets, clothing items and other products which can be reused or made into a by-product.

Why donate or recycle

All products are made from valuable resources and materials, including metals, plastics, and glass, all of which require energy to mine and manufacture. Donating or recycling your used materials conserves our natural resources and avoids air and water pollution, as well as greenhouse gas emissions that are caused by manufacturing virgin materials.

  • Consider upgrading  or servicing the items instead of buying a brand new product.
  • Delete all personal information from your electronic devices.
  • If you prefer, we can remove your personal information from your device(s) for you.