South Africans from Klerksdorp to Cape Town are working hard to clean up their communities, create jobs by giving waste second chances and recycling their way to a better future. Now, these sustainability champions are in the spotlight thanks to a new docu-series about the work they do!
South Africa (19 October 2023) — Around the country, sustainability champions are working to clean up their communities while creating much-needed income opportunities in the waste collection and recycling sector. Now, their efforts are being recognised in a newly released docu-series ‘Sorted’, a must-watch.
A Snippet of Sorted
Directed by veteran actor-director Louw Venter, Sorted showcases inspiring sustainability advocates and the hard work they are doing to grow the country’s circular economy, boost eco-consciousness and contribute to a greener South Africa.
Through the eyes of actress Lindiwe Dim – a self-declared “concerned consumer”, anyone with access to the internet can embark on the circular economy adventure with her, and be inspired to help it flourish further.
In addition to being featured in the series, the subjects were also honoured for their work by Petco, South Africa’s longest-standing producer responsibility organisation (PRO) which oversees collection and recycling efforts of post-consumer packaging throughout the country in the Petco Awards, AKA the ‘Green Oscars’.
Their work spans fields of positive environmental impact, from clever innovation to entrepreneurial and environmental education efforts.
Aimed at revealing the untold stories of these entrepreneurs, researchers, environmental educators and women empowerment advocates, Sorted unpacks the significance of the collection and recycling sector for consumers and spotlights the ways we can all pitch in and lend a hand.
“There are people who are designing products so they can be recycled. There are people collecting and sorting these recyclables. There are people buying these recyclables,” explains Lindiwe.
“The money changing hands means that people can eat and communities can flourish.”
In Johannesburg, Lindiwe learns from one of Africa’s largest and most advanced recyclers of PET bottle materials, while in Klerksdorp, she visits Matlosana Recycling, a woman-owned and managed buy-back centre.
There, founder Cindy Foord – joint recipient of this year’s Petco Top Woman in Collection and Recycling award – employs 23 permanent staff and supports 160 waste pickers by purchasing their recyclables.
“Everyone that comes in here [to sell a recyclable] bottle or paper, I know that is their food for the day. That drives me… but a lot of people don’t know that [recyclable materials are] worth something,” shares Cindy.
In the Cape Flats, Lindiwe investigates one of the Western Cape’s largest material waste recovery facilities, run by Waste Want – a joint recipient of the Petco PET-repreneur award.
Co-founder Lydia Anderson-Jardine highlights that on top of employing 1,000 community members full-time and supporting about 500 waste pickers, their waste recovery facility also does the collection of recyclables and runs recycling awareness programmes in the community.
Further along the adventure in KwaZulu-Natal, another award winner Bevlen Sudhu outlines how waste champions are empowered and make the circle bigger for the empowerment of others.
“Our work of supporting one waste champion, in turn, helps over thirty others to earn an income while diverting waste from their local landfill. Our impact is both social and environmental, which also leads to economic growth in our country,” explains Bevlen.
You can watch the nine-episode docu-series and learn more about what is one of the most important sectors in South Africa, here.
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