In FY 2023, we partnered with various community-led waste collection projects to catalyse waste collection and recycling activities at a community level. Safripol supported ARO with waste collection infrastructure which included a mobile baler, trailer, generator, wheelie bins, and bulk bags. The partnership made a positive impact in expanding ARO’s separation at source (SAS) program in Gauteng and also increasing collection volumes in their remote sites in Mpumalanga. ARO’s SAS program reached close to 4 800 households, and just over 130 reclaimers benefitted, while 760 tons of materials was collected for use back in the recycling industry. Safripol also partnered with PETCO to capacitate 4 buy-back centres in the Vaal Triangle with waste collection infrastructure like trailers, trolleys, etc. Across all 4 centres just under 500 tons of material was collected last year supporting 38 waste reclaimers.

Safripol’s partnership with Isphepho for the school’s education and separation at source project in the Umlazi township in KwaZulu Natal, led to implementation of the program across 20 schools in Umlazi in 2022, reaching just under 3700 children. About 200 tons of recyclables were collected by the schools last year. We also provided ongoing support for the Green Corridors and Tri-Ecomvelo litter-boom project, which has now reached 17 sites across some of our most polluted river catchments areas in KwaZulu Natal. Over the past year, the project employed 23 local community members, and about 8 tons of ocean bound waste was diverted away from the marine environment for reuse back in the industry.

Through our various partnerships and initiatives, Safripol is making a positive impact in uplifting vulnerable communities throughout the country and reducing plastic leakage into the environment, while unlocking higher volumes of recycled plastic feedstock for reuse back in the industry.