During a busy round of town hall gatherings in four communities across Mpumalanga, Petco helped turn curiosity into concrete plans for running collection and recycling businesses.

Over four workshops, we met with 200 people – including waste pickers, SMMEs, youth and emerging entrepreneurs – sharing knowledge, encouragement, and tools for change.

The meetings were inspiring, showing the enthusiasm people have for this income-generating activity that requires no qualifications, just hard work and a little guidance to unlock the value of recyclable packaging materials.

From Balfour to Mooivlei, these were some of the workshop highlights:

In Balfour, the Dipaleseng Town Hall was abuzz with activity as 61 residents gathered for a practical workshop. Hosted with support from the Dipaleseng Local Municipality, Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs (DARDLEA), Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), and Gert Sibande District Municipality, the hands-on training empowered small businesses, community members, and public works programme beneficiaries.

For established waste picker Naledi Mofokeng, the session brought fresh motivation and a stronger sense of direction. “The knowledge I gained here confirmed that by collecting recyclables while cleaning the streets, I’m truly making a lasting difference,” she said.

A few days later in Standerton, 64 locals – waste pickers, small business owners, and members of the Zonda Insila Programme (ZIP) – gathered for the Lekwa workshop.

Here too, the focus was on sharing practical tools for navigating the recycling economy. Waste picker Noluthando Buthelezi stated: “The session was very useful to us who lack information about recycling, how it works, and where to get support.”

The final stop was Davel and Mooivlei, where we worked with Canyon Coal to engage 95 participants in two sessions, covering everything from starting a recycling business to sorting techniques and connecting with buyers. Canyon Coal’s Ayanda Khumalo described the experience as empowering: “It was a great pleasure to be part of an initiative that helps communities earn an income while caring for their environment.”

Together, these workshops are proof that local action can unlock national change – and advance a circular economy that benefits all South Africans.