Hard-To-Recycle Waste Turns into Awesome Desks to Support Lifelong Learning!

Photo Credit: Supplied

This year, National Recycling Day is getting a practical makeover, with organisations joining forces to turn hard-to-recycle laminate materials into nifty new desks and chairs for little learners.

iLembe District, South Africa (15 September 2025) – We love a good recycling initiative, and this one right here is extra special because not only is it preserving the environment, but it’s also supporting the education of tomorrow’s leaders!

In honour of National Recycling Day, observed on 20 September, the EPR Waste Association of South Africa (eWASA), in collaboration with ITB Plastics and My Waste, is celebrating in a meaningful way by uplifting Early Childhood Development.

These organisations will unite to deliver 25 sets of desks and chairs to the Isithebe Day Care Centre in the iLembe District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, fostering a brighter future for the little learners.

Isithebe Day Care Centre, which provides a safe and supportive environment for the children of employees and local industry workers, offers peace of mind for parents and valuable early learning opportunities for children.

What makes this contribution special is that the furniture is made from hard-to-recycle multi-laminate materials, giving waste a new life and practically demonstrating how the circular economy can directly benefit communities.

Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centres play a pivotal role not only in preparing children for formal schooling but also in laying the foundation for lifelong learning.

Research underscores the urgency of investing in early education: the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2021 found that 81% of Grade 4 learners in South Africa struggle with reading comprehension, meaning they cannot read for meaning by the age of 101.

eWASA recognises that these challenges often stem from inadequate early development opportunities, compounded by a lack of proper infrastructure and resources. By equipping children with appropriate classroom furniture, we aim to create conducive learning spaces that foster concentration, engagement, and holistic development.

Vanessa Mashele, eWASA’s Paper and Packaging Key Accounts Manager, explained that the initiative will help teach children to see the potential in waste and understand that what may look like trash can, in fact, be turned into something valuable.

“By learning early that waste can create new opportunities and resources, they begin to view recycling as a way of transforming challenges into treasures. This mindset will inspire creativity, responsibility, and long-term sustainability,” Vanessa adds.

Through this initiative, eWASA and its partners reaffirm their commitment to building partnerships that strengthen communities while reducing environmental impact. By turning difficult-to-recycle waste into functional educational resources, this project showcases how the circular economy can simultaneously advance environmental sustainability and social progress.