WasteAid Dixon Repair Programme launches in Johannesburg, South Africa

The Dixon Foundation has supported WasteAid since 2021 and is now supporting the delivery of an e-waste repair programme in South Africa.

The primary aim of the programme is to extend the life of small electronic items through maintenance and repair, by supporting community-based waste-entrepreneurs (‘wastepreneurs’) to repair appliances and equipment for re-use, through a training and mentorship programme.

South Africa has a robust entrepreneurial landscape with informal reclaimers and grassroots wastepreneurs active across communities and informal settlements. The business of waste as a resource has escalated, and the Dixon Repair Programme aims to accelerate and embed a culture of repair and reuse into the livelihood opportunities of micro businesses that are already embracing this model to make a living.

The Electronic and Electrical Equipment Waste (W-EEE) Repair Programme will start in Johannesburg, engaging with active waste EEE repairers who are working at a grassroots level and do not currently have access to resources and capacity.

A tailored EEE Repair Programme will focus on developing entrepreneurs who are currently already repairing EEE equipment in some way. It is aimed at improving the income potential of waste reclaimers and microbusinesses who are working in the informal waste value chain, by professionalising their work, improving their knowledge and skills, opening up network access, and providing business incubation and seed-funding opportunities.

The W-EEE training curriculum will have a strong practical application of training to augment skills and will include business finance skills and have a marketing digital component to support enterprise development of EEE repair models

The support of the repair enterprises through this programme will accelerate the circular economy within communities, and amplify the upskilled micro entrepreneurs’ participation in the waste recovery industry.

WasteAid is extremely grateful for the Dixon Foundation’s ongoing support.