A non-profit organization called Polyco was established to reduce the amount of polyolefin waste that goes into landfill. The company does this by collecting, recycling and recovering polyolefin plastics across South Africa.

Despite its efforts, however, Polyco became aware that 95% of South Africans don’t recycle, and they discovered the reason is that people don’t see the benefit. In an attempt to curb the negative attitude towards recycling that so much of the South African population has Polyco set up an initiative called Packa-Ching that rewards people for the trash they collect.

Through engagement and education, the Packa-Ching initiative is sweeping across South Africa with some remarkable results. When it was first launched in August last year, after just two days, seven tonnes of waste was collected in Langa alone.

How the recycling initiative works

People are encouraged to collect trash and recyclables and bring them to a mobile trailer where the waste is weighed, and collectors are rewarded with money which is loaded onto a Kilorands debit card.

This brilliant initiative mirrors what other companies are doing across South Africa as community members are encouraged to not only clean up the environment in which they live and work but to be a part of reducing unnecessary waste making its way to a landfill.

Last month thesouthafrican.com reported on a recycling initiative taking place in Sedgefield that encourages children to collect rubbish which can be transferred into points. These points accumulate and can be spent at a local swop shop to buy food or toys. It’s run by a company called Freshstart which aims to educate children about the importance of recycling.

Companies like these have recognised that when people are empowered through education and can see how their efforts benefit not only the world in which they live, but can put food on the table, everyone benefits.

To find out more about Packa-Ching or Freshstart, click on the links and see how you can get involved in helping to change South Africa’s approach to recycling.