Producer responsibility organisation Polyco, in partnership with the Prince Albert municipality and the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning has launched the Prince Albert Recycling Group.

This is an integrated recycling initiative aimed at strengthening local recycling systems across the Karoo by linking community- and school-based collection with municipal waste management operations, while building long-term local capacity.

The initiative includes the establishment of a recycling hub at the Prince Albert landfill site, operated by local service provider Green Dump Recycling, as well as the provision of targeted resources and education to support school-based recycling across the Karoo region.

The official project handover took place on February 4 at the landfill, with representatives from government and industry in attendance.

The four participating schools include Prince Albert Primary School, Leeu Gamka Primary School, Klaarstroom Primary School and Teske Gedenk Primary School in Beaufort West.

Each school receives a dedicated recycling activation, including educational booklets and waste separation equipment such as bulk bags, bins and bulk holders made from recycled plastics.

The programme educates learners on separating recyclables at source, reinforcing correct recycling behaviour, while visibly demonstrating the value of recycling by linking learner participation to tangible outcomes.

The initiative aims to reach over 2 800 learners and 80 educators.

By integrating landfill operations, waste reclaimers, schools and the wider community, the project is aimed at reducing plastic pollution at source, while creating local economic and social benefits.

It seeks to invest in youth education, create jobs, support waste reclaimers and enable communities to generate income through recycling within a coordinated local system.

The initiative has created six direct jobs within participating schools, sustained four ongoing roles through a local collector in Beaufort West and formalised three landfill waste reclaimers into a registered enterprise, Green Dump Recycling.

“The impact of this project goes beyond one community. In a job-scarce area, the Prince Albert municipality has created a practical mechanism for change within their district and beyond, and Polyco is proud to have contributed to that.

“This collaboration shows how local government, industry and communities can work together to turn waste into a vehicle for building sustainable local recycling systems that deliver social and environmental value,” says Polyco enterprise development manager Lisl Doherty.

Prince Albert Deputy Mayor Sydney Koonthea says the project supports the municipality’s ability to deliver reliable waste services in a rural context.

“For a small municipality, having the right infrastructure and partners in place makes a real difference. This initiative strengthens our landfill operations and gives our learners and community a practical way to participate in recycling.”

Polyco says it is committed to expanding this model beyond Prince Albert and the Western Cape, working with additional municipalities and provincial governments to implement similar initiatives across South Africa.