S waste PACKA-CHING
S waste PACKA-CHING KA-CHING KA-CHING South Africa’s waste management and recycling sector has welcomed a rapid influx of innovative community recycling projects in response to the country’s need to divert waste from landfill. R Recognised for its successful and easily replicable model, Polyco’s Packa-Ching project recently won the Conscientious Spirit Award at the 25th WasteCon. “The drive for sustainability in our waste management sector has largely been determined by keeping waste streams out of landfill and economically repurposing materials, realising the environmental and social benefits of recycling,” says Patricia Pillay, CEO of Polyco. “Our Packa-Ching project has been successful in this by bringing an enterprise-operated mobile recycling service to many communities across our country. Through this project we are uplifting communities and keeping recyclable packaging waste, including plastic, paper, glass and cans out of the environment and landfill.” Since the launch of Polyco’s Packa-Ching project in 2017, more than 7.2-million kilograms of waste has been diverted from landfill with more than R6.4-million earned by community members, in exchange for their recyclables. “Through our partnerships with Sasol and the Shoprite Group, we have managed to successfully roll out 10 mobile Packa-Ching units across six provinces. Our newest, in Nelspruit, launched in October 2022 and is driven by local waste entrepreneurs, I-WASTE. “With Packa-Ching, we have been working with small business owners and entrepreneurs within the waste sector, empowering them with resources to scale up their businesses within the communities in which they operate,” says Pillay. “A mobile recycling truck and trailer is a great solution to bring a ‘recycling drop-off’ site to a wider community. We have seen that this has been quickly adopted, with community members bringing their recyclables to be weighed in and exchanged for an instant payment made via a cashless eWallet solution to their cell phone.” Hosted by the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA), WasteCon is the country’s flagship waste management conference and awards event. The biannual event is a premier showcase of the best practices and solutions for sustainable waste management. The Conscientious Spirit Award is given to the organisation, project or person that has demonstrated conscientiousness in a project or service beyond normal ethical behaviour in pursuit of the IWMSA’s goals. Some of these goals include improving waste management standards, training, and awareness creation on waste management, and promoting the value of waste as a resource. “We are so honoured that our work with Packa-Ching has been recognised with this award. It’s the perfect end to what has been a great year,” says Pillay. “We would like to make special mention to our sponsors, the Shoprite Group as well as Sasol for the continued support and for helping to make Packa-Ching the success it is today. “We’ve seen the positive impact of this programme on various local communities – both for the employees and those generating an income from recyclables. Not only does it promote removing waste from our communities and recycling it, but it also makes recycling more accessible,” adds Sanjeev Raghubir, the Shoprite Group’s sustainability manager. S To find out more, visit www.packaching.co.za. 26 | Service magazine
waste S CREATING A GREENER FUTURE There is concern that the country is on the verge of an environmental crisis because landfills are rapidly filling up and illegal dumping sites are popping up in communities. Illegal dumping sites are a threat to the environment and the Iwellbeing of communities. More than 90% of waste generated in Africa is disposed of at uncontrolled dumpsites and landfills, often with associated open burning, causing a need for waste management. Refuse is often seen as a cumbersome issue and many businesses avoid taking responsibility for their waste. As Africa’s urban growth spiked by 3.55% per annum over the last two decades – a trend expected to continue well into the future – the problem has only become more acute. Africa’s waste generation is expected to reach 244-million tons per year by 2025. This conundrum is a concern that Mafiso Xulu, the founder of MFT Waste Solutions, is addressing through his waste management business. Xulu helps companies reuse and repurpose their waste to avoid it ending up in landfills. Businesses operating in South Africa are legally required to comply with national standards of waste management which stipulate that they must take responsibility for their waste to avoid being prosecuted. Entrepreneurs like Xulu are entering the waste management sector to make a meaningful impact. Getting the business up-andrunning was not easy for Xulu. He initially struggled to secure a warehouse to operate from due to financial difficulties. Thereafter, he had to ensure that the warehouse met health and safety requirements and he also had to purchase expensive machinery. “Once I met all the legal requirements, I was able to start working with big companies like Unilever. We help Unilever to keep hazardous waste out of landfills by treating their waste or crushing it before returning it to the company to reuse,” he says. JOB CREATION OPPORTUNITIES With the 244-million tons of waste predicted to be produced in Africa within the next decade, this creates an opportunity for waste to be collected, reused and recycled and jobs can be created. “I currently employ over 60 people and 37 of them are from the Tembisa Self-Help Association of the Disabled (T-SHAD) that I work closely with,” he says proudly. As the fight against waste intensifies, there will be plenty of business opportunities that can lead to economic growth and job creation. Xulu adds that there is always work to be done in the waste sector. There is a need for more businesses to work in unserved areas where there are illegal dumping sites. Mafiso Xulu, the founder of MFT Waste Solutions. “I don’t mind getting my hands dirty because I am passionate about eradicating landfills and helping companies and communities repurpose their waste,” he says. The growth strategy for MFT Waste Solutions is to collaborate with global companies that are reducing marine litter and pollution. Xulu is excited about the future and is proud that his business is creating jobs and positively contributing towards reducing pollution. S There is always work to be done in the waste sector. Service magazine | 27
