Green Future in store for Cato Manor

WILDLANDS Conservation Trust, a leading environmental non-profit organisation, set up a “Green Future Store” recently for Durban-based residents involved in their ‘Recycling for Life’ project.

The store was set up at Bassa’s Wholesale Store in Mayville.

Wildlands call these people Waste-preneurs, as they collect recyclable waste and barter it with the NPO for items they need, at a Green Future Store, such as, food, bicycles, building supplies and education support.

Deserving Waste-preneurs arrived from Cato Manor, Umbilo, Isipingo, Umlazi, Nazareth and Dassenhoek to reward themselves with the vouchers given to them by Wildlands.

The Waste-preneurs who went to barter their redeemable vouchers for goods collectively bartered 16 238kgs, valued at R7000.

“This is an exciting day for me because my hard work has paid off. I plan to collect more recyclable waste to buy more groceries so that my family never goes to bed hungry again,” said Thobile Janet Mthembu, a Waste-preneur from Umbilo.

Waste-preneur Ntombikanina Zikalala from Cato Manor was over the moon: “This is such a blessing for me because this will feed my whole family as no one is employed, we rely on my pension most of the time but I’m very grateful to have joined this project. I make a difference in my community while earning a living for my family too.”