Youth undergo training to start recycling businesses
‘The training is also helping to educate them about the importance of tackling issues such as illegal dumping.’
Eersterust and Mamelodi young people underwent waste management training recently to start their own recycling businesses.
The training was aimed at people aged between 18-35.
Green Deeds Recycling is providing training in conjunction with the National Youth Development Outreach (NYDO) and Media Works aimed at creating greater awareness and employment opportunities in the recycling sector.
Célest van Niekerk of Green Deeds Recycling said the youth were equipped with the skills and knowledge to start their own recycling and waste management businesses.
“The training is also helping to educate them about the importance of tackling issues such as illegal dumping,” said Van Niekerk.
There’s been a growing awareness around environmental sustainability, especially with landfills in Gauteng becoming full, forcing cities such as Johannesburg and Tshwane to focus more on recycling.
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Van Niekerk said this initiative aimed to help young adults realise that they could start a sustainable business in this space with no upfront costs.
“It can also create real job opportunities at a time when unemployment is rising amid the Covid-19 crisis,” he said.
The participants learnt from a new curriculum put together by adult education and training specialists Media Works and topics covered included recycling trading and business management skills, an introduction to financial services, as well as dealing with issues of basic personal planning and budgeting.
The group was selected by NYDO, a well-established local NGO whose mandate it was to look for sustainable solutions for the youth.
Implementation manager at Media Works Louis Nel said: “In South Africa, there’s been a renewed focus on adult training and skills development as a means to help tackle the country’s unemployment challenges.
“Learning can take place at any age, and there is a multitude of fields that adults can upskill themselves for.”
Van Niekerk said waste management was in its infancy in South Africa and as communities, “we can always do more for our environment”.
ALSO READ: Recycling company terminates household collection programme
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the launch of the Good Green Deeds campaign last year, which aims to make recycling a household habit.
“We need to train, educate and make everybody aware why this is critical. But importantly, there are job opportunities in this space that can’t go unnoticed,” he said.
The National Lotteries Commission provided funding for this programme.
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