KAROO – Polyco, in partnership with the Prince Albert Municipality and the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP), has launched the Prince Albert Recycling Group (PARG), an integrated recycling initiative aimed at strengthening local recycling systems across the Karoo by linking community- and school-based collection with municipal waste management operations, while building long-term local capacity.
The Prince Albert Recycling Group (PARG) is an integrated recycling initiative aimed at
The initiative includes the establishment of a recycling hub at the Prince Albert landfill site, operated by local service provider Green Dump Recycling, as well as the provision of targeted resources and education to support school-based recycling across the Karoo region.
The official project handover took place on 4 February, at the landfill, with representatives from government and industry in attendance.
These included Prince Albert Deputy Mayor Sydney Koonthea; Municipal Director of Technical Services Zolile Nongenge; Geneva Schreuders of Green Dump Recycling; Ron Mukanya; and Lisl Doherty, DEA&DP’s Director: Sustainability and Enterprise Development.
The four participating schools include Prince Albert Primary School, Leeu Gamka Primary School, Klaarstroom Primary School, and Teske Gedenk Primary School in Beaufort West.
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Each school received a dedicated recycling activation, including educational booklets and waste separation equipment such as bulk bags, bins and bulk holders made from recycled plastics.
The programme educates learners on separating recyclables at source, reinforcing correct recycling behaviour in a fun and engaging way, while visibly demonstrating the value of recycling by linking learner participation to tangible outcomes.
The initiative aims to reach over 2,800 learners and 80 educators.
By integrating landfill operations, waste reclaimers, schools and the wider community, the project reduces plastic pollution at source while creating local economic and social benefits.
It invests in youth education, creates jobs, supports waste reclaimers, and enables communities to generate income through recycling within a coordinated local system.
The initiative has further delivered tangible impact on jobs and livelihoods – creating six direct jobs within participating schools, sustaining four ongoing roles through a local collector in Beaufort, and formalising three landfill waste reclaimers into a registered enterprise, Green Dump Recycling.
Together, this strengthens local employment, supports small business development, and advances recycling and waste diversion in the community.
Lisl Doherty, Enterprise Development Manager at Polyco, said, “The impact of this project goes beyond one community. In a job-scarce area, the Prince Albert Municipality has created a practical mechanism for change within their district and beyond, and Polyco is proud to have contributed to that.”
“This collaboration shows how local government, industry and communities can work together to turn waste into a vehicle for building sustainable local recycling systems that deliver social and environmental value.”
Prince Albert Deputy Mayor Sydney Koonthea said the project supports the municipality’s ability to deliver reliable waste services in a rural context.
“For a small municipality, having the right infrastructure and partners in place makes a real difference. This initiative strengthens our landfill operations and gives our learners and community a practical way to participate in recycling,” said Koonthea.
Speaking at the project handover, Ron Mukanya said, “This project is a strong example of what can be achieved when local partners work toward a shared vision. Its impact will be felt not only through cleaner communities, but also through the opportunities it creates for learners, residents and local waste reclaimers. Our partnership with Polyco and the Prince Albert Municipality has helped make this possible by connecting schools, households and municipal services into one coordinated approach that supports long-term sustainability.”
Polyco is committed to expanding this model beyond Prince Albert and the Western Cape, working with additional municipalities and provincial governments to implement similar initiatives across South Africa.
These efforts aim to strengthen community waste systems, increase plastic packaging collection, and create meaningful economic opportunities through recycling.
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