Recycling made easy: Essential tips for Clean-up and Recycle Week

As  Clean-up and Recycle Week kicks off today, September 15 - 20, producer responsibility organisation Petco is reminding people that meaningful change starts with consistent, everyday choices, not just one-off clean-ups.

The organisation says that while annual events raise awareness, the real opportunity lies in the daily decisions that keep recyclable packaging out of landfills and in circulation through the country’s circular economy.

“Clean-up and Recycle Week is a chance for all of us to turn good intentions into lifelong habits,” says Petco CEO Telly Chauke. “Recycling starts with the choices we make in shops, at home, at work and in our communities. If we regularly separate recyclables at source, we not only reduce what goes to landfill, but we also support the waste pickers and small collection businesses whose livelihoods depend on collecting and trading these materials.”

The annual campaign, led by Plastics SA and supported by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, includes:

• National River Clean-Up Day –  September 17

• National Recycling Day – September 19

• International Coastal Clean-Up Day and World Clean-Up Day – September 20

Everyday actions that count

Chauke stresses the importance of separating recyclables from general waste at the source - whether in homes, schools, workplaces, or public spaces.

She shares practical tips:

• Keep organic waste separate from recyclable items

• Remove shrink sleeves from bottles

• Choose clear or light blue bottles over dark or black ones, which are harder to recycle

• Avoid packaging labelled as “compostable” or “biodegradable,” which is not recyclable and can contaminate recycling streams

“These types of packaging are often collected together with recyclable packaging by mistake. So, keeping these items out of recycling bins means that established recycling streams will remain uncontaminated,” Chauke explains.

How South Africans can participate

Petco outlines several ways individuals and organisations can take part:

• At home: Designate a space for recyclables, use a collection service, or leave clear bags for waste pickers

• At work: Provide accessible recycling bins and encourage colleagues to use them

• At school: Set up colour-coded bins and integrate recycling into lessons

• At universities: Raise awareness, make bins visible, and coordinate collection

• At events: Use recyclable packaging, set up labelled disposal points, and work with waste providers

“Every bottle or liquid board carton collected, sorted from general waste and recycled contributes to a stronger circular economy for South Africa,” Chauke says.