Five schools in Mitchells Plain have collectively diverted 2.5 tonnes of waste as part of a youth-led recycling challenge, reports Cape {town} Etc.
Held in September 2025, this dynamic competition, supported by Petco and Grandmaster Ready D’s G-CAP initiative, aimed to uplift local communities, reduce waste, and foster long-term recycling awareness among students.
The campaign, dubbed Petco’s Get in the Loop Schools Recycling Competition, encouraged learners to take ownership of their environmental impact while fostering healthy competition among schools, teachers and families.
Ultimately, Liesbeeck Primary School emerged victorious, recycling an impressive 674.80 kg of waste, reflecting their strong commitment to environmental responsibility and community mobilisation.
- 1st Place — Liesbeeck Primary School: Recycled 674.80 kg
- 2nd Place — Wavecrest Primary School: Recycled 587 kg
- 3rd Place — Caradale Primary School: Recycled 487.10 kg
This initiative has proven effective not only in diverting waste from Western Cape landfill sites, which are grappling with capacity constraints, but also in enhancing awareness of recycling practices among young learners.
Through dedicated sorting and collection efforts, recyclable materials that would otherwise have contributed to landfill overflow were redirected to certified recycling hubs, reinforcing South Africa’s circular economy.
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Throughout the competition, learners participated in workshops and received practical training on proper recycling practices.
From identifying recyclable materials to separating waste streams, students acquired essential real-world skills that they eagerly shared with their households, thereby extending the campaign’s impact beyond school gates.
Grade 4 teacher Mrs Kassiem shared insights into their approach: ‘We sent out multiple letters to parents to keep the hype up; it became a collaborative process between teachers and learners. I reminded them every other day. We always reminded them about the recycling process of stomping on the bottle, emptying plastic, and we even had other educators guiding them. It became a whole collaborative process.’
Seventh-grader Salmaan Hendricks reflected on the experience, saying, ‘I always felt proud of myself… we had so much fun sorting the stuff.’
School Principal Wahied Gasant expressed pride in the achievement following a recent tragedy within the school community. ‘This win comes at the right time. We always knew we were going to win this. Our strategy was to involve the younger teachers, who have a more eager and vibrant approach to these projects. Our school has a unique culture that makes us special.’
As the prize was handed over, Junaid Francis from Petco congratulated the learners and teachers, emphasising the significance of their involvement. ‘Your efforts have kept bottles and jars out of the environment, out of the landfill and out of the oceans. You’ve reminded all of us that when we work together, we can make a difference in South Africa.’
The enthusiasm of learners was echoed by Grandmaster Ready D, who praised the initiative. ‘The project had a meaningful and uplifting impact on the learners at Liesbeeck Primary. When we teach kids about environmental responsibility early on, we empower them to make better choices for their future.’
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Picture: Supplied
