What is a waste picker?

A waste picker is a person that collects recyclable materials and supplies them into the recycling value chain.

How do waste pickers make money in South Africa?

You can become a waste picker by collecting recyclable materials from households, businesses or public spaces and selling them into the recycling value chain through buy-back centres or recyclers.

Where do waste pickers sell recyclables?

Recyclable packaging is sold to buy-back centres or intermediary collectors who sell on to recyclers.

How do I become a waste picker?

You can become a waste picker by collecting recyclable materials from households, businesses or public spaces and selling them into the recycling value chain through buy-back centres or recyclers.

What is PET plastic and why should I collect it?

PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is commonly used for beverage bottles and jars and food packaging. PET plastic bottles and jars are widely collected for recycling in South Africa.

What packaging materials can be collected and recycled in South Africa?

Common recyclable materials include: Paper and cardboard PET plastic bottles and jars #1 HDPE containers and bottles #2 LDPE flexible bottles or squeezy sauce bottles #4 PP Bottlecaps and yoghurt containers #5 Liquid Board Packaging cartons Aluminium cans and tins These are subject to volumes collected as well as whether they’re recycled in your area.

What is Liquid Board Packaging (LBP)?

Liquid Board Packaging cartons includes cartons used for products like long-life milk, custard and juice. These are made from paperboard combined with layers of plastic and aluminium and can be recycled where facilities exist.

Why are waste pickers important?

Waste pickers play a critical role by: Recovering recyclable materials. Supplying materials into recycling systems. Reducing waste sent to landfill. EPR systems support the integration of waste pickers into the recycling value chain.

What should I do before selling recyclable materials?

To improve value: Sort materials by type. Remove residue from packaging. Keep materials as clean and dry as possible. Compact or flatten items where possible.

How can I collect more recyclable materials?

You can: Build relationships with households or businesses. Collect from high-volume areas. Focus on materials with consistent demand.

Does Petco support waste pickers?

Petco supports waste pickers through workshops and training, infrastructure and equipment support, and by creating markets for recyclable materials to be sold into.

How do I start a recycling business?

You can start a recycling business by collecting, sorting and selling recyclable materials, or by establishing a buy-back centre that purchases materials from waste pickers and supplies recyclers.

What is a buy-back centre?

A buy-back centre is a business that buys recyclable materials from waste pickers, sorts and bales them, and sells them to recyclers for processing.

What materials should a buy-back centre accept?

Paper and cardboard PET plastic bottles and jars #1 HDPE containers and bottles #2 LDPE flexible bottles or squeezy sauce bottles #4 PP Bottlecaps and yoghurt containers #5 Liquid Board Packaging cartons Aluminium cans and tins Recycling of certain materials depends on local demand and recycling infrastructure in that area.

What role do SMMEs play in the recycling value chain?

SMMEs such as buy-back centres: Create market access for waste pickers. Improve collection volumes. Supply recyclers with sorted materials. Support local economic activity.

How does the EPR system support recycling businesses?

Under Section 18, EPR systems: Fund collection and recycling activities. Support development of infrastructure. Promote small business participation in the recycling value chain. Encourage integration of waste collectors.

How can I supply recyclers as a business?

To supply recyclers: Collect sufficient volumes. Maintain consistent material quality. Build relationships with recycling companies.

What are important factors for running a successful buy-back centre?

Key factors include: Reliable supply of materials. Proper sorting and storage. Understanding material value. Strong relationships with waste collectors and recyclers.

How can Petco support recycling SMMEs?

Through the provision of equipment, infrastructure, training and PPE (applications are necessary and support is provided within the PRO’s capacity.) Creating markets for recyclable materials to be sold into. Promoting participation of small businesses in the value chain.

What do recyclers do?

Recycling companies process collected materials into raw materials used to manufacture new products and packaging.

rPET refers to recycled PET plastic that is processed to make new products and packaging like new PET bottles, car mats, fibre for clothing, fibrefill for jackets and duvets, geotextiles, strapping and broom bristles.

Why is demand for recycled materials important?

Demand ensures that recyclable materials have value and somewhere to go once they have been collected, supporting collection and recycling systems.

How does Petco support recycling companies?

Petco supports recyclers by promoting markets for recycled materials, through direct financial investment, infrastructure provisioning and business development.

Your journey starts here

Collecting and recycling creates opportunities

We can help to build or grow your business

Petco works closely with the entire collection and recycling value chain – waste pickers, buy-back centres, co-operatives, SMMEs, waste management companies and reprocessors – to ensure that ample opportunities are created at scale for individuals and communities to take part, take their businesses forward, and move up the value chain.

We want to see collection and recycling businesses succeed, because as each part succeeds, all other parts succeed, too.

By supporting this value chain, we enable the efficient collection and sorting of recyclables, while contributing to a cleaner environment, more prosperous communities and a circular economy.

The packaging that Petco looks after

Packaging is everywhere – it surrounds most things that we buy, from food and drink to electronics, furniture and household items. If it is irresponsibly discarded, it ends up in landfill sites or, worse, as litter in the environment. Yet it can do so much more – packaging can be recycled into many new and useful things, and creates many income opportunities. Petco strives to maximise the value and longevity of the packaging in our schemes.

Want to start a collection business?

Already have an established collection business and need support?

Already a recycler/reprocessing business?

How Petco supports the collection and recycling value chain

Packaging producers who choose to be Petco members pay us a fee to make sure that the packaging that they put onto the market is collected and recycled. We, in turn, pay a fee to recyclers to collect and recycle. This fee is used by the recyclers to expand their collection and recycling activities and to increase the gate price (price that the recycler pays for recyclable materials). This in turn improves the earnings for the collection and recycling value chain and ultimately results in more recyclables being collected, which helps keep our circular economy turning and our environment clean.

Meet our collection and recycling team

Our team is passionate about ensuring that valuable recyclables are kept out of the environment and are ploughed back into the circular economy to be made into new items.