When all sectors of society work together to build our green economy, it has a multiplier effect. Recently, we had some fantastic opportunities to sponsor and run training workshops in collaboration with private sector businesses and non-profit organisations, as well as municipalities and provincial government.

Informal collectors play an important role in the collection of recyclable materials, so training them to build sustainable businesses and to collect valuable recyclable materials has benefits for them, their communities and the whole collection and recycling value chain in South Africa. By helping to build working relationships between collectors and municipalities especially, we can build recycling capacity and help to alleviate the pressure on municipal landfills.

In Gauteng, we held a workshop in the Sedibeng District Municipality. The workshop, held at Poortjie Orange Farm, was attended by 70 waste pickers, SMMEs, members of co-ops, and unemployed youth, who learned how to start and grow a collection business.

We appreciate the involvement of all stakeholders who made it possible, including Sedibeng District Municipality, Green Economy NPC, Gold Fields South Deep Mine, GDARDE, Plastics SA, Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa, Distell, Circle of Hope, and PikitUp.

In Mpumalanga, we partnered with our friends at Plastics SA to host recycling training workshops in Standerton and Belfast, and also in the Free State town of Welkom.

Special mention must be made of the Standerton event, where we were also supported by the Lekwa Local Municipality and DARDLEA. Here, 74 attendees were trained, and we were excited to see a wide range of interested participants – from existing and potential waste pickers to unemployed youth and adults, as well as established SMMEs and co-operatives.

Petco looks forward to bringing all these entrepreneurs into a more inclusive collection and recycling value chain.