Hosting on-site workshops, especially at buy-back centres, across the country provides a fantastic opportunity for Petco’s on-the-ground liaison team to engage with and empower waste pickers in their working environment.

The recent Northern Cape workshop in Kimberley saw a great turn-out, with waste pickers actively participating in the session on material identification and separation, especially liquid board packaging (LBP) and PET materials – and those that look similar to PET but are, in fact, non-recyclable.

As a gesture of appreciation for their hard work and contribution to the circular economy, attendees were provided with a meal and personal protective equipment to make collecting a little easier.

In Welkom in the Free State, Petco co-hosted a similar capacity-building workshop attended by buy-back centre employees and the waste pickers who supply recyclable materials to the facility.

Aside from giving Petco a chance to share knowledge with stakeholders, the training session also created a valuable opportunity for collaboration between the buy-back centre employees and the waste pickers who form an essential part of the local recycling ecosystem.

By enhancing their understanding of recyclable materials and improving collection and sorting practices, the participants will be better positioned to increase material recovery rates, reduce contamination, and improve the overall efficiency and sustainability of recycling operations.

And in Limpopo, Petco brought together key stakeholders committed to strengthening the recycling value chain – from municipal officials to buy-back centre owners and waste pickers.

The impact session at Hlohlokwe Community Hall in Ga-Sekororo was delivered in collaboration with the Limpopo Department of Development, Environment and Tourism, the  Mopani District Municipality, Maruleng Local Municipality, and CorpsAfrica.

The participants gained valuable insights into the role of Petco as a producer responsibility organisation, opportunities in the broader recycling industry, and the current recycling market dynamics and trends. This was not just a high-level session – it also saw waste pickers actively engaging and expanding their understanding of how they contribute to a more sustainable future – and how we can build cleaner communities and a more inclusive circular economy together.