Three schools – the Alicedale, Kewtown and Norma Road primary schools – on the Cape Flats, collected just less than 700 kg of recyclable packaging in March as part of a pilot project to help divert recyclable materials from landfills and the streets of Athlone.

The pilot project was run by zero-waste solutions company Regenize in partnership with producer responsibility organisation Petco.

A report on the pilot project’s impact, compiled by Regenize, said pupils “embraced the challenge with enthusiasm, taking pride in their roles as young environmental ambassadors”.

“Parents joined the movement at home while teachers welcomed the integration of real-world environmental action into the curriculum, using the campaign as a platform to inspire responsibility.

“This collaboration has laid a strong baseline for measurable impact, one we can build on with each future initiative,” the report said.

Reaching young people and involving them in the sustainability movement helps to address eco-anxiety, said community tree planting nonprofit Greenpop CE Misha Teasdale.

“By engaging them in active solutions, we transform anxiety into action, fostering a sense of empowerment and hope. Active citizenship is another vital aspect, as young people are the future leaders and decision-makers,” he said.

“Creating a movement requires the energy and innovation that young people bring. Their involvement ensures that the sustainability movement remains dynamic and adaptable, capable of addressing both current and future environmental challenges.

“We need to imagine, plan and then create the world we want. Youth should be at the centre of this,” he emphasised.

Further, encouraging awareness around the value and impact of recycling was the first step to driving behavioural change, Petco CEO Telly Chauke said.

“It is never too early to foster good habits in our children so that they grow into environmentally responsible adults and community leaders who can help us build a successful circular economy for South Africa,” she said.