Collection business support

Growing robust collection businesses

Petco provides sponsorship of equipment and infrastructure and training support

By supporting waste pickers, buy-back centres, co-operatives, SMMEs and waste management companies, Petco is helping to drive efficiency and sustainability to the value chain.

In order to do this, Petco provides:

Equipment and infrastructure support

Workshops and training

Mentorship

Equipment and infrastructure support

On application and at our discretion, we support businesses to help cover operational costs, e.g. fuel subsidies as well as infrastructure upgrades and equipment purchases, such as sponsorship of baling machines and personal protective equipment for staff. This assistance ensures that businesses can efficiently collect, sort, store and sell recyclables.

Training

We offer various types of training, from basic training to accredited training and capacity-building programmes for waste pickers and the staff of collection businesses. We also offer business management training for entrepreneurs. Our training includes links to business support, finance and markets.

Increasing demand for recyclables 

Petco has built a sustainable value chain for collectors to sell into. Without a market for recyclables, collectors have no one to sell to. We’re constantly working to increase the demand for recyclables, striving to develop and expand the market so that collectors have recyclers to sell to.

Awareness 

We advocate for the integration of the informal sector and collaborate with relevant stakeholders to strengthen their position in the collection and recycling value chain.

Petco equipment and training support application form

See how Petco has supported these projects

Contshe on the way to increased collections

We supported Contshe Cleaning and Housekeeping Services in Simile, Mpumalanga, by supplying 10 branded trolleys. This initiative directly benefited 10 waste pickers, with the goal of increasing the collection volume of the SMME and improving the working conditions of waste pickers through the provision of essential equipment.

A new trailer sets Rural Roots up for success

Situated in King Williams Town, Eastern Cape Province, Rural Roots received 10 sets of personal protective equipment (PPE), an industrial scale, and a 4-meter trailer. The aim of this assistance was to provide waste pickers with a sense of dignity and visibility through the use of PPE, while also facilitating the project to initiate the purchase of recyclables with the newly acquired scale.

Enhanced safety and improved sanitation for Vaalpark recycling centre

In collaboration with AECI, the Vaalpark Recycling Centre received 36 sets of personal protective equipment (PPE), the construction of a two-section toilet building, a signage board, and site paving. Launched in November 2014, the centre features a community drop-off site and a low-tech material recovery facility, employing 10 individuals. The support aims to enhance safety, improve sanitation, and address muddy conditions during heavy rain, promoting the sustainable operation of the centre.

United in Truth set up for expansion

We supported United in Truth Projects, a woman-owned buyback centre in Nseleni Town near Richards Bay, with a platform scale to replace their broken one, a 4-meter trailer for transporting recyclables, and 16 sets of personal protective equipment. These measures aimed to enhance operational efficiency, support the company’s expansion within the City of Umhlathuze, and ensure the safety of employees and women involved in the collection and sorting of recyclables.