The Petco team has been busy in Limpopo province, empowering waste pickers at key landfill sites and Expanded Public Works Programme participants with essential collection and recycling knowledge.

In collaboration with Modimolle-Mookgopong Local Municipality, the team hosted on-site training for waste pickers performing the important work of recovering recyclable materials from the Nylstroom and Mabatlane landfill sites.

The training reinforced the value of waste, highlighted the critical role waste pickers play in advancing the circular economy, and promoted safe practices when working on landfill sites and handling recyclables.

The team also shared how to identify PET and liquid board packaging, how to tell them apart from non-recyclable lookalike packaging, and the range of end products that can be manufactured from recycled materials to boost the recovery of these materials.

Also in Limpopo, Petco partnered with DFFE and Thulamela Local Municipality to share recycling knowledge with EPWP participants who play a critical role in keeping communities clean through litter collection, street cleaning, greening initiatives, and clearing illegal dumping sites.

This workshop equipped 117 beneficiaries with practical knowledge on how to separate waste and identify recyclable materials, as well as the available support opportunities, and the basics of starting and operating a recycling business.

By strengthening their understanding of waste recovery, participants are now better positioned to divert valuable recyclables from landfill while creating sustainable livelihood and economic opportunities for themselves beyond their EPWP contracts.