From Digging in Bins to a Renewed Sense of Purpose: Recycling Brings New Hope to Thembisa

Just a few years ago, many residents in Thembisa survived by scouring rubbish bins for food. Today, thanks to a locally-run Packa-Ching buy-back centre supported by Shoprite, they are collecting recyclables instead – and earning an instant income that allows them to shop for groceries, provide for their families, and find a renewed sense of purpose.

This static recycling centre, the first of its kind in the township, is a partnership between Shoprite, Polyco and Greener Pastures Recycling. Located at the Mall of Thembisa, the centre has contributed to both the local economy and a shift in community perspective.

In the past year alone, it diverted 54 711kg waste and has paid out over R112 000 to local waste collectors in exchange for recyclable materials.

Thabiso Hlongwane, a young entrepreneur who launched the area’s first buyback centre, says the journey to building a sustainable waste business wasn’t easy. It took him nearly one year to break even, and his business only became viable thanks to crucial early support from Shoprite. This included the placement and funding of learners through the Youth Employment Services (YES) programme, led by government and labour departments to create economic pathways for young people. By covering these employment costs, Shoprite enabled Hlongwane to focus on growing the business, building awareness, and educating the community on the value of recycling.

“The backing we received from Shoprite made the difference between surviving and shutting down. Salaries are often the biggest expense for a small business. Having that relief allowed us to focus on becoming sustainable,” says Hlongwane.

The buy-back centre is now a familiar and valued part of the community. Regular waste collectors return not just for fair prices and prompt payments, but for the respect they are shown. Hlongwane says some people still believe that participating in the programme will not generate much income, but he believes there is money to be made for those willing to work hard.

“This kind of work is difficult, but when you’ve done the work, you’re able to reap the rewards of that labour,” says informal recycler and mother, Zodwa Nkabinda. “I love my family a lot, and they are grateful. They say, ‘Mama, if it wasn’t for you, where would we be?’”

Hlongwane has also seen the positive impact on young people. “There are kids who come here with recyclables, and they make R150. The parents then don’t have to give them tuck shop money. It’s their money and they’ve earned it,” he says. “It instils a good thing in them.”

Beyond job creation and income generation, the centre has played a role in addressing Thembisa’s waste crisis. The township is South Africa’s second-largest, and like many growing urban areas, it faces serious waste challenges. Illegal dumping is common, and with too few bins and irregular waste collection, many households have little choice but to burn or dump their rubbish. The result is harmful to both the environment and public health.

According to Sanjeev Raghubir, Chief Sustainability Officer at the Shoprite Group, supporting Packa-Ching units, such as the one in Thembisa, is a way to intervene meaningfully.

“Shoprite works with several Packa-Ching units nationally, focusing on removing valuable waste from communities in a way that creates financial benefit within those communities. We also recognise that there’s a problem with waste packaging in the environment and work to make sure that the packaging we use is recyclable, reusable, or compostable.”

The impact of the programme is already measurable. Over the past financial year, 23 Packa-Ching units have rerouted more than 9 million kilograms of waste from landfill, redistributed R12.7 million to communities and supported the creation of 80 jobs. To date the programme redistributed over R40.6 million to people across South Africa.

However, in Thembisa, perhaps the most significant outcome is the shift in perspective from viewing waste as a burden to recognising it as a source of dignity, income, and community pride.

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Author: Faith Davids from N/A on behalf of N/A.

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