Through an innovative business model Thrive Recycling is addressing community needs by empowering the members to work towards shaping a more sustainable social, economic and environmental future.

Based at the Hout Bay Drop-off, a city waste facility on the border of Hout Bay village and Imizamo Yethu slum settlement, this waste management project revolves around innovative residential recycling initiatives. Established in 2009, it enables participants to earn an income by becoming a part of the waste management cycle. Collected waste is delivered to a co-operative staffed by 11 members, who retrieve useable items, sort the balance and resell recyclables on for further handling.

In parallel, Thrive also runs a recycling scheme that rewards residents of Imizamo Yethu for bringing waste to the co-op by issuing them with vouchers redeemable at local informal shops and service-providers. Economic upliftment aside, the project has great environmental benefits by helping to reduce landfill waste and litter. The project’s holistic approach also sees them offering waste-management education programmes at schools.

By strengthening community ties and seeking to mitigate the community’s ecological footprint this social enterprise is not only helping to rehabilitate and preserve the natural biodiversity, but also empowering residents socially and economically to take the power into their own hands and create a better future for their community and generations to come.

For more information please visit thrive.org.za