How a simple investment in skills and equipment transformed a waste collector’s future

As the only person able to earn an income in his family of nine, Tevelon works tirelessly. Collecting, sorting, and selling waste in his township of Rieger Park in Johannesburg.

As a waste collector, who also has a physical and mental disability, life is challenging for Tevelon who feels the pressure of supporting his family. Here, there are no formal waste collection or recycling services, and with high unemployment rates, people such as Tevelon support their families through waste-picking plastics which they take, by foot and in carrier bags, to their nearest buy-back centre.

When Tevelon joined WasteAid’s ‘Wastepreneur’ training programme, he was earning just 600 Rand (£27) per month from his collecting activities – well below the poverty line. Through our 12-week ‘Wastepreneur’ training course he was able to gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence to improve his earning potential.

Training included business and finance basics, as well as helping participants to understand the different waste streams. It also included mentoring and coaching from local people with lived experience in waste recovery, which prepared the trainees to pitch for additional support for their waste businesses at the end of the course.

Tevelon gained a huge amount of confidence by taking part in the programme. So much so, that he pitched to a group of local waste management and sustainability professionals to ask for an investment in a specially designed trolley for people with disabilities, which would help him to increase the amount of plastics he could collect. He also asked for a sun hat to protect him as he carried out his collection rounds. The team was so impressed, that they granted his request and provided special work boots.

The simple investment of a trolley and some workwear is estimated to increase his livelihood by between 33% and 50% each month, as well as giving him dignity, a sense of belonging and pride in his activities and what they can provide for his family.

Thank you for everything you guys have done for me, I will never forget,” says Tevalon.

Together we can empower marginalised communities to find value in waste – helping people and the planet thrive.

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How a simple investment in skills and equipment transformed a waste collector’s future

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