By Samke Phewa, Community Organisation Resource Centre (CORC) and SDI South Africa Alliance
In KwaBester, a low-income township in the eThekwini Municipality of KwaZulu-Natal, residents have acquired vital knowledge and practical skills in solid waste management and recycling. It all began in 2023 with a six-month Public Employment Programme (PEP), initiated by the KwaZulu-Natal Government under the municipality’s Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), originally aimed at improving the local environment and alleviating poverty.
Over time, however, the programme evolved into a sustainable, community-led initiative and also supports livelihood creation and long-term resilience.
The programme’s impact is evident in the response from community members after its official conclusion. Within just six months, participants had developed practical skills which enabled them to continue waste management activities independently, making use of the structures and networks established during the initiative. As a result, many residents can now generate sustainable incomes through partnerships with buy-back centres and other recycling facilities set up during the programme.
Using the skills and knowledge gained, residents established a community and women-led recycling initiative. They collect household waste, both their own and that of fellow community members, sort and store it at the local waste centre, where it is later collected by partner organisations.
This entire initiative helps transform previously discarded materials into valuable resources, delivering significant environmental benefits to a community that once struggled with waste management. It not only reduces litter and enhances the cleanliness of the settlement but generates income for participating households through the sale of recyclables to local buy-back centres.
In recognition of the impact and innovative nature of this grassroots initiative, the eThekwini Municipality provided critical support to the community. The municipality’s Department of Solid Waste Management contributing expertise in material sorting and understanding the market value of various recyclable materials. Additionally, the municipality facilitated the establishment of linkages with recycling buy-back centers.
With the commitment by the municipality and the ward councillor, the recycling initiative has fostered a sense of pride among residents. The same level of success has been seen through the urban gardening initiative in the KwaBester township and other surrounding sections. This was also initiated through the PEP program and the Presidential stimulus program called Social Employment Fund (SEF).
This recycling project and partnership is more than just a waste management strategy, it is an initiative which recognises that communities are not just beneficiaries, but active participants in managing waste within the metro.
