Soweto, South Africa – Friday, 15 August 2025
The recently appointed MEC for Environment, Ewan Botha, joined Purpose Recycling (PR) and its partners to celebrate Mandela Day and officially launch the Purposeful School Recycling Programme (PSRP) at Don Mateman, Eldorado Park. The event featured a MetPac-SA-sponsored wall banner and recycling awareness pamphlets. This initiative, supported by PR and sponsors Fibre Circle, Polyco, the Electrical Waste Association of South Africa, and MetPac-SA, aims to educate primary school pupils on waste separation, recycling, and environmental health.
Due to limited capacity, the PSRP will initially be rolled out at five primary schools: Heerengracht, Eldridge, Kliptown, McBain Charles, and Boekenhout. Each participating school has already received recycling bins and educational reading material.
According to PR Project Manager Shannon Boer, while they had partnered with the schools for waste collection over the past two years, there was no formal programme to teach the pupils about recycling, which led to the creation of the PSRP. “We need the children to be involved if we want to see change in our environment. We must start teaching them from a young age so that they never forget, even when they are older,” Boer stated.
He explained that PR’s mission is to promote recycling, create an economy from waste, and prevent waste from ending up in landfill sites. “If our children learn about all the different types of recyclables, including organic waste, metals, glass, plastic, paper, and electronics, we can work towards zero waste to landfill. A clean environment will mean no illegal dumping sites because people will realise that waste has value. It is not only about the money, it’s about creating a cleaner environment,” he added.
Gauteng Landfill Sites on Botha’s Radar
Eldorado Park residents are among those affected by air pollution and water contamination from landfill sites, particularly the Goudkoppies landfill near Ext 2, which has been in operation for 30 years.
Botha acknowledged that it is no secret that most of Gauteng’s landfill sites are reaching capacity. “The government is looking at ways to divert waste away from these sites. Recycling is not only vital for easing pressure on Gauteng’s landfill sites, but it also plays a key role in improving air quality, creating jobs, and unlocking a multi-billion-rand industry. Our department is focused on regulating the sector, supporting buy-back centres, and ensuring waste is diverted from landfill,” said Botha.
He also mentioned that there is a court order to close the Goudkoppies landfill site. The closure and rehabilitation of the site remain a priority, with strict monitoring now underway to prevent further plastic burning and pollution. He added that his department is dedicated to ensuring cleanup efforts associated with major events, such as the G20, are sustainable so communities can benefit long after the attention has shifted.
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