Your trash is her treasure

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure is a saying Queen Phashe-Boikanyo holds dear to her heart.The 48-year-old has made a success of her life by using other people’s trash.

With the help of Mpact Recycling, she started Robertville Recycling 12-years ago and it has become one of the most active buy-back centres in the country.

“I was unemployed and did not have a way to make money. That is when I saw an advert in a national newspaper advertising different ways to make money from recycling,” she said.

She started collecting cans from her neighbourhood in Dobsonville and sent it to be recycled.

“The first time I made money from recycling it was R60 but the bakkie I hired cost me R40. However, that did not discourage me and I kept on working hard and collecting more cans,” said Queen.

She collected papers, newspapers and cans from schools using a wheelbarrow.

Queen contacted Mpact recycling, known as Mondi at the time to collect her recycled materials which had increased.

“When they arrived with a bakkie, they were disappointed with my quantity becuase it was small. I formed a relationship with the company and started learning how to increase my volume,” she said.

Some of the tips she was given included sorting cans into different materials such as aluminium and steel, and to flatten the cans so they have more weight.

Mpact drove a bakkie to her home every week to collect materials. Her income increased to R250 a week.

A few months later, Mpact Recycling supplied her with a recycling bin in Kliptown.

Queen started talking to the local residents about bringing materials to her such as boxes and papers for a small fee.

The increased capacity allowed her to make more money. At times, she would make R1800 to R2000 a week.

Mpact Recycling innitiated a small business empowerment model of partnering with local entrepreneurs who help to collect recycled paper by setting up buy-back centres.

The centre is where people can deliver waste paper for payment.

The company helped her with finding a location and providing training for four full-time employees to work at the buy-back-centre.

After years hard work, Robertville has now become one of the most successful buy-back centres.

It processes about 100 tons of waste paper and cardboard a month, selling it onto Mpact Recycling.

This successful recycling business has enabled Queen to put all four of her children through school and the oldest two through university.

Her eldest daughter is now a pharmacist and the next daughter will soon graduate as a dentist.

“This is a good business with the potential to get bigger because a lot of the paper that is used in people’s homes and offices is still not recycled. I encourage people to start recycling as it creates jobs and keeps our environment clean. All you have to do is start separating the paper from the other things you throw away and once you have enough, bring it to an Mpact buy-back centre,” she said.