Schools divert 44 tonnes of waste through recycling competition
A total of 69 schools registered for the competition, collecting recyclable materials in three categories: paper and cardboard, plastics, and cans.
An impressive 44 tonnes of recyclable waste was diverted from landfill sites by schools participating in the School Recycling Competition hosted by the city’s Waste Management Directorate.
The competition formed part of the ‘Back to School – Keep My School Clean’ pillar, implemented during the first quarter of 2026 under the National Waste Management Strategy.
Its aim was to encourage schools to actively participate in waste diversion and environmental protection through recycling.
A total of 69 schools registered for the competition, collecting recyclable materials in three categories: paper and cardboard, plastics, and cans.
Of these, 54 schools submitted their recycling statistics and collectively diverted an impressive 44 tonnes of recyclable waste from landfill sites.
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Beyond reducing waste sent to landfill sites, the competition delivered several benefits. Schools helped create cleaner and healthier learning environments, while pupils and teachers gained valuable knowledge about responsible waste management practices.
The success of the programme was further strengthened by the support of recycling companies and buy-back centres, which assisted with the collection of recyclable materials and compensated schools according to the volumes collected.
The top-performing schools in each category received cash prizes of R15, 000 for first place, R10, 000 for second place, and R5, 000 for third place.
The category winners were Yellowwood Park Primary School for paper and cardboard, Atholl Heights Primary School for plastics, and Phakathi Secondary School for cans.
The prize money will be used to strengthen waste management initiatives.
“The success of this competition demonstrates that collaboration is essential in creating cleaner schools and communities. We commend all the schools who participated,” said Councillor Mdu Nkosi, chairperson of the Technical Services Committee.
