Recycling Solutions: The Upcyclers

Since eThekwini Municipality stopped collecting orange bags, our community has been at a loss. What do we do with our recyclable waste?

The recycling site in Delamore Road is an initiative of the Keep Hillcrest Beautiful Association (KHBA). “We can’t accept orange bags, and we don’t take plastic,” says chairman Marge Mitchell. However paper, cardboard, cans, glass bottles and large appliance polystyrene – all washed and in separate bags – are welcome. The Pavilion’s recycling centre accepts plastic, and also takes cardboard and glass. Then there are the wonderful individuals within our community who have taken the matter into their own hands, such as Yvonne and Brad Speirs. Inspired by their children’s eco-schools, Kloof Junior and Senior Primary, they became obsessive recyclers.

“We believe strongly in the ripple effect, that each small action can spread out and change the world,” says Yvonne. Creating The Upcyclers, the Speirs put themselves out there and have received an incredible response. “Through immense support from family, friends and members of our programme, we have purchased our own bakkie and have had to get casual labour in to help us with sorting.”

For R100 a month The Upcyclers collect and supply two reusable bags a week – one bag for plastic and the other for paper, cardboard, glass and tin – and donate waste to community projects such as Singakwenza, who use the items to make toys as teaching aids in the rural communities, and Wildlands.

KHBA: mmitchell@tiscali.co.za

The Upcyclers: info@theupcyclers.co.za