The City of Johannesburg's Waste Management and Regulation Unit, in partnership with Pikitup, the Greater Johannesburg Environmental Forum (GJEF), Petco, and various stakeholders, successfully hosted a Recycling Indaba in commemoration of Global Recycling Day on Friday, 27 March 2026, at the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens in Emmarentia.
The event brought together community-based organisations (CBOs), government representatives, private sector stakeholders, waste reclaimers, and residents to exchange knowledge, strengthen partnerships, and unlock opportunities in the recycling and circular economy.
Discussions focused on policy frameworks governing waste management, perspectives of CBOs on recycling, examples of the circular economy in action, and the identification of priority interventions to improve waste management practices across communities.
Bernard Mulauzi from the Greater Johannesburg Environmental Forum emphasised the importance of collaboration and community empowerment in advancing environmental initiatives.
“We need to unite communities and organisations within the environmental space by empowering them to protect the environment. Collaboration is essential as no single entity can drive this work alone. We must also promote separation at source, particularly in townships, and bring all stakeholders together to strengthen environmental awareness, advocacy, and action," Mulauzi said.
City officials also engaged participants by unpacking Joburg's waste management by-laws and highlighting ongoing efforts to review the Waste Management By-law. The review aims to strengthen regulation, safeguard public health, and promote recycling and reuse initiatives.
Additional presentations were delivered by Fibre Cycle, which provided insights into recyclable materials and the role communities can play in effective waste separation, as well as Petco, which shared industry perspectives on advancing recycling initiatives.
Written by Dudu Lushaba
30/03/2026
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Joburg marks Global Recycling Day with educational sessions on waste management
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