Cape Town – The Glass Recycling Company (TGRC) recently hosted a Buyback Centre (BBC) and business management bootcamp in Khayelitsha, aimed at strengthening the entrepreneurial capacity of glass collectors and increasing the number and sustainability of buyback centres operating across Cape Town and the Western Cape.
Held at the Isivivana Centre in Khayelitsha, the workshop brought together 65 participants, including buyback centres, recycling co-operatives and independent collectors from Khayelitsha and Philippi. The initiative forms part of TGRC’s broader strategy to expand South Africa’s glass recycling ecosystem by supporting the entrepreneurs who operate at the frontline of collection and material recovery.
A key part of this mission is strengthening the grassroots recycling economy, where collectors and buyback centres play a vital role in diverting glass from landfills while creating livelihoods.
“Collectors and buyback centres are at the heart of South Africa’s glass recycling ecosystem,” says Shabeer Jhetam, CEO of The Glass Recycling Company. “By investing in business training and creating opportunities for collaboration with partners across the value chain, we are helping collectors grow sustainable enterprises and enabling more buyback centres to emerge. Strengthening these businesses ultimately increases the amount of glass that is recovered and recycled, while creating jobs and economic opportunity within communities.”
“Workshops like this ensure that collectors are not only recognised for the role they play in protecting the environment, but are also equipped with the tools they need to run viable, compliant businesses that can access funding and grow over time,” he adds.
“Collectors and buyback centres are the backbone of the glass recycling value chain,” said Lusanele Mahlutshana, facilitator of the workshop. “By equipping them with business management skills and connecting them with partners in the ecosystem, we are helping to unlock opportunities for growth, formalisation and long-term sustainability in the sector.”
The bootcamp was delivered in collaboration with several stakeholders working across the recycling and enterprise development landscape. Representatives from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) shared insights on South Africa’s evolving waste management framework, including the role of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in strengthening recycling systems and supporting small businesses within the value chain.
Participants also heard from Fetola, a leading enterprise development incubator, which highlighted opportunities for small recycling enterprises to access business incubation programmes, grant funding and development support through partnerships with financial institutions and impact investors.
Beyond stakeholder engagement, the core focus of the bootcamp was practical business management training designed specifically for collectors and emerging recycling entrepreneurs.
Sessions covered key areas that often limit enterprise growth, including:
- Business registration and regulatory compliance
- Record keeping and financial management
- Tracking collection volumes and measuring operational impact
- Understanding the broader business environment
- Applying the triple bottom line approach – balancing environmental, social and economic impact
For many participants, the training addressed a critical gap between operating informally in the recycling economy and developing sustainable, scalable enterprises capable of accessing funding and growth opportunities.
The workshop also provided a platform for collectors and entrepreneurs to share the challenges they face on the ground, enabling TGRC and its partners to better shape future interventions that support enterprise development within the recycling sector.
To support safe working conditions for collectors and entrepreneurs , TGRC also distributed personal protective equipment (PPE) including masks, gloves and protective goggles to participants, reinforcing the importance of safety in glass handling and collection.
The strong turnout and engagement from collectors and entrepreneurs highlights the growing interest in recycling as a pathway to entrepreneurship and job creation in Cape Town’s communities. Many participants noted that the workshop not only provided practical tools for running their businesses, but also created valuable networking opportunities with peers and stakeholders across the sector.
“This type of engagement is essential for building a more resilient recycling ecosystem,” Mahlutshana added. “By strengthening the capacity of collectors and supporting the growth of buyback centres, we can increase glass recovery rates while creating meaningful economic opportunities in communities.”
TGRC plans to continue hosting similar workshops across the country as part of its ongoing efforts to increase the number of active collectors and buyback centres, improve operational capacity in the sector and ultimately boost glass recycling rates across South Africa.
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Author: Gabrielle Matthew from JNPR on behalf of The Glass Recycling Company.
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