Here at Petco, we enjoy working with youth and established waste pickers to explore and grow opportunities in collection and recycling.

We recently had the pleasure of working with seven young people in one intensive workshop, and with 46 established waste pickers on practical ways to strengthen recycling in Tshwane.

As always, we worked with partners: the Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, the City of Tshwane, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), Tiny Tau E-Waste, and the Department of Water and Sanitation. We appreciate the enthusiasm that all of these bodies are showing for sharing the possibilities inherent in recycling.

Each of our recent Gauteng workshops highlighted the practical tools needed to create and sustain viable businesses in recycling, and left attendees better equipped to make meaningful strides toward a cleaner, more sustainable future.

At the youth-focused workshop (in partnership with Harambee and the DFFE), seven promising, carefully selected participants spent the day unpacking what it takes to build a successful recycling business. The session gave them a grounded look at everything, from understanding local rules and strategies to registering a business and building local networks.

Each person walked away with new ideas and motivation, and a certificate to show for it – a simple but important reminder of the steps they are taking on an exciting entrepreneurship journey.

A few days later in Tshwane, Petco hosted 46 waste pickers, cooperatives, and community members as we explored practical ways to strengthen recycling in the city, with attendees sharing their own ideas and experiences.

Workshops such as these confirm that when communities take ownership and action, with just a little support, ordinary people can make big things happen.