In partnership with Isphepho, Plant the Seed, Indaloyami, and with sponsorship from MetPac-SA, Safripol is advancing separation-at-source (S@S) programmes in schools within our fenceline communities of Durban South and Sasolburg. This initiative forms part of our broader commitment to building a local circular economy for plastics in South Africa and supports our social licence to operate.
The programme equips schools with essential recycling infrastructure and educational resources to:
- Establish effective waste separation practices,
- Divert valuable materials from landfills,
- Improve recycling rates, and
- Inspire long-term behavioural change toward a more sustainable future.
Now in its fifth year of support from Safripol, the Isphepho Schools S@S Programme expanded in FY 2025 to 103 schools across Umlazi, Engonyameni, eFolweni, and now including Jacobs, and Merebank. Reaching over 89,000 learners, the programme integrates a CAPS-aligned curriculum focused on the circular economy, the 4Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover), and environmental stewardship. Looking ahead, the programme plans to expand to 12 additional schools in the Jacobs and Merebank communities, bringing the total number of participating schools to 115. Furthermore, the programme is capacitating Isphepho – a community-based buy-back centre in Umlazi, to grow its business and expand its impact. The programme has also created meaningful community-based employment opportunities through the YES Programme. With Safripol’s support, 24 unemployed youth from local communities were given job placements at Isphepho, with 6 securing permanent employment.
In parallel, Plant the Seed has piloted its SACE accredited Zero Waste Toolkit in six schools across Sasolburg and Vanderbijlpark over the past five months. The project has trained 5,322 individuals, including learners, teachers, and school support staff. It is also building capacity for Indaloyami, a community-based recycler and the designated partner for the school’s programme in Sasolburg.
Together, these school-based S@S programmes have successfully diverted 436 tonnes of post-consumer waste from landfills—reducing pollution and returning valuable materials to the recycling stream. These efforts are more than a recycling initiative – it is embedding environmental stewardship into the fabric of school life and shaping a new generation of environmentally conscious citizens serving as a catalyst for systemic change.
Through strong partnerships and shared purpose, Safripol and its collaborators are driving real impact—proving that together, we can be a catalyst of change.
