Behind every successful recycling effort are the hardworking waste pickers who collect recyclables on the ground. As South Africa’s leading Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO), one of our main objectives is to understand the daily challenges these waste pickers face – which are ongoing, complex and interconnected. Only then can we address their needs, improve their working conditions, and help change the stigmas under which they operate.

Our recent visit to the environmental NGO Green Up gave us the opportunity to do just that.

At Petco, we believe in the power of conversation, in addition to support in the form of equipment, training and education. This is also why our Western Cape Regional Recycling Officer, Senamile Mvuyana, recently paid a visit to Green Up to connect with the project’s hardworking waste pickers who are driving real change. Green Up is a previous Petco award winner making a tangible difference in local waste management.

Talking to the waste pickers gives us insight into the kinds of obstacles they deal with each day. Broadly, these challenges include a lack of proper gear, safety concerns, and the sense that they are doing society a great service with very little recognition. How many people stop to chat to waste pickers to find out what their daily round entails?

By talking to waste pickers and listening to their stories, we can develop better ways to support their growth, highlight their work, and build more pride in the industry. Those simple conversations on the ground often lead to the most meaningful solutions.

Petco’s ongoing engagement with waste pickers plays a major role in our ability to grow a truly circular economy in South Africa. With support and initiatives like this, we can ensure that waste pickers are given the resources and respect they deserve. In the long run, this drives even greater impact.