Our on-the-ground collaborations are strengthening South Africa’s recycling system in the places where it really matters –in communities, at landfill sites, and in schools – through practical training and support that helps turn knowledge into everyday action.

In one recent workshop at Koster Stadium, around 50 participants came together, including waste pickers, buy-back centres, and local stakeholders. The focus was simple but important: how to improve day-to-day recycling practices across the collection value chain and make it easier for materials to be recovered and reused effectively.

The session also brought together representatives from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, district and local municipalities, and local leadership, creating space for open conversation about what’s working, what isn’t, and where support is most needed in the system.

Following the training, separation-at-source (S@S) bins were handed over to Koster Primary School. The idea is to start young – helping learners understand the value of separating waste early and making recycling part of everyday school life, not just something discussed in workshops. It’s a small but important step in building long-term habits that stick.

A second workshop, this time in Gauteng, took place at the Magaliesberg landfill site in partnership with Mogale City Local Municipality. Here, waste pickers and site teams were guided through practical sorting training, focusing on identifying key recyclable materials like PET and liquid board packaging, and understanding what can and cannot be recovered.

For many participants, the session also helped clarify how their work at site level feeds into South Africa’s broader recycling economy.

To support safer working conditions, Petco also provided reflector vests for better visibility on site, while the municipality shared useful operational insights into how the landfill is managed, including waste streams and site processes.

Taken together, these sessions highlight what real progress in recycling looks like: not just talking about systems change, but working within them alongside the people who keep them moving every day.