How Zanele is Turning a Setback into a Thriving Recycling Business

Our project, “Supporting the Economic Empowerment of Youth in the Waste Value Chain in Rural South Africa,” aims to help create dignified and safe livelihoods for young people working as informal waste pickers in rural Mpumalanga. Funded by the John Lewis Partnership Foundation, the project is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at uplifting 100 young waste pickers in the Thembisile Hani District Municipality.

Zanele, a 34-year-old female informal waste collector, has been collecting and selling waste alongside her parents and husband for over 15 years. At the start of the project, Zanele lived with her family of 14 people, including her seven children, in temporarily provided traditional housing. She joined WasteAid’s programme after her family and group of collectors were forcibly removed from an illegal dumpsite where they lived and reclaimed waste, which has since been closed.

Now, equipped with new knowledge, skills and resources, her and her new group have been empowered to increase their collections, incomes and quality of life. Zanele has successfully transformed her informal recycling efforts into a formal business. After learning how to operate a waste business, she and her team implemented structured work strategies, significantly improving their efficiency and collection rates.

At the start of the project Zanele was collecting 600 kg of recyclables each month and only collected three types of plastic. In the two months following the completion of the project Zanele has collected almost 7.5 tons of waste and added three new waste streams to her operation.

“This project has done a lot for me, I learned to collect different types of waste and to go to local businesses.” – Zanele

By August 2024, Zanele’s hard work led to a significant increase in her monthly income, growing from only £87/month to nearly £440/month. Her story is a testament to the impact of the support she has received through John Lewis’ funding. Zanele’s success not only highlights the transformative power of WasteAid’s First Step Waste Recovery Programme, but also sets a strong example for aspiring entrepreneurs in her community.

Beyond her personal achievements, Zanele became a leader among her peers during training. Through peer mentoring sessions she inspired other trainees, shared her strategies and business practices, and offered valuable insights that are helping others improve their own operations.

One of the most impactful changes was her decision to formally register her business, together with 5 other participants from the project. This step not only legitimised her operations but has also made her eligible to apply for SMME business funding through our local Municipal partner, providing an avenue for future growth and support.

“We are now an officially registered business, so have the chance to apply for funding at the municipality. Maybe my wish can come true and I can open my buyback centre so that my business can grow and create more jobs for other people.” – Zanele

Zanele’s entrepreneurial spirit didn’t stop there—she increased her ability to network and self-advocate, proactively approaching local guesthouses and event venues, securing new agreements to collect their recyclables.

These strategic partnerships expanded her collection base and boosted her business’s revenue. This kind of self advocacy is one of the success stories coming from the project.

This year Zanele’s goal is to start building her new home, securing a more stable environment to support her work and family.

“Now I collect more than before. I’ve increased my income from R2000/month to almost R10 000/month.”

Reflecting on the past year, Zanele said, “I think this project is very nice for the youth, people are starting to respect us now, they don’t think we drug users anymore. We must continue to teach other people in new places, so we can learn, do better and earn money.”