Dirt for the Poor - Waste and Vegetation Management
Empowering rural communities through waste management
e_sponsors
SWITCH Africa Green
Sector
Waste Management
e_city
Polokwane
e_country
South Africa
The enterprise buys and collects waste from rural households, sorts it for recycling, and delivers the waste products to recycling centres in Polokwane and Tzaneen. The enterprise is also committed to community engagement, which has resulted in greater awareness about recycling; rural households have adopted the practice of sorting their waste.
In addition to better sanitary conditions and fewer health hazards, this waste management initiative is also a supplementary income-generating activity for many households.
Eco-Inclusive Impacts
Conserving the environment and empowering rural households through waste management.
- Reducing environmental damage by offering waste management for rural households.
- Reducing the amount of plastic waste ending up in the oceans by recycling and community engagement.
- Establishing better sanitary conditions through effective waste management in rural communities.
- Improving public health by removing health hazards associated with untreated waste.
- Reducing the unemployment rate in the host village with plans of hiring five full-time employees.
- Offering rural households a supplementary source of income by buying their waste.
Partners
The enterprise buys and collects waste from rural households, sorts it for recycling, and delivers the waste products to recycling centres.
The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) in South Africa provided the enterprise with mentorship and training.
Bosveld Scrap Recycling is a business partner that buys waste from the enterprise and recycles it.