Introducing the concept of recycling in Gugulethu had been a daunting mission for Reakgile Pudumo but he strongly believed in his idea – so much that he was willing to do whatever it takes to make it a reality.
The 35-year-old started the Ekasi Recycling company in 2014 to encourage people in his community to see the importance and value of recycling.
Recently, Mr Pudumo rewarded a pupil at Vukukhanye Primary School, Khanyisani Matiwane, with a bicycle as he had collected a lot of recyclables. He also awarded Qhamani Mdambuli, from NY11, who had collected the most recyclables in Gugulethu.
Qhamani said he was grateful that he received a bicycle.
The 11-year-old said he collected 16 bags of plastic bottles with his father. He said he has learnt a lot about recycling and his friends have also joined the initiative.
Accompanied by young business people, Mr Pudumo cycled to the school for the handover on Friday July 20.
In partnership with schools in Gugulethu, he told Vukani he started an initiative called Gugulethu Goes Green in May, to encourage pupils and children to collect recyclables. ln return he awards them with bicycles.
Mr Pudumo said the objective was to teach pupils about the benefits and values of recycling.
He said pupils needed to have an incentive so they could work towards earning something.
He said he was introduced to recycling at high school and realised later the social impact and that there was a gap in the market.
Mr Pudumo said he started Ekasi with relatives, including his mother and brother, in 2011. They collected cardboard and cans at local taverns. He said along the way some of his relatives quit, but he continued and registered the company in 2014.
He said his mother was one of the main funders of the company and got them a bakkie.
“It was not easy at first convincing people to buy into this idea. I want to create employment through this initiative.” he said.
He said one of the key challenges that he faced when he started the initiative was that people did not want to do something for nothing.
He said people never understood the concept of recycling and many did not understand why they should do it.
He then created a win -win situation whereby people would recycle for something, be it a bicycle or a trip to Robben Island.
He said he seeks to promote a culture of recycling and eventually implement systems of waste diversions in Gugulethu.
“When I started I wanted to drive education about recycling and environmental awareness. We teach pupils in Grades 6 and 7 about recycling and being responsible citizens. We urge them to promote the culture of cleanliness. We then motivate these pupils to come to school with recyclable material. We then incentivised the pupil who has collected the most recyclables with a bicycle.”
Mr Pudumo said he opted to go via the educational route in an effort to promote recycling. He said in 2017 he attended the Stellenbosch Business Academy for Small Business and he got an award as the most social responsible business.
He said part of his future plans was to formalise the industry and set up a first waste facility in Gugulethu. He said he would distribute bicycles to waste collectors so that they could stop using their trolleys and instead cycle with trailers.