Residents and waste reclaimers in KwaMashu and surrounding areas are set to have greater access to formalised recycling opportunities following the launch of a new Packa-Ching mobile recycling unit in KwaMashu.
The unit was officially launched on Wednesday, 2 September 2026, through a partnership between Polyco and KwaMashu-based community recycling enterprise Itheku Recycling Group, with additional fuel sponsorship from Sasol. The initiative aims to bring paid recycling services closer to communities while increasing the amount of recyclable material collected and processed in the area.
Through the Packa-Ching model, waste reclaimers and community members are paid directly for recyclable materials such as plastic, paper and cardboard. Transactions are recorded through Polyco’s WeighPay platform, providing a more formal and transparent system for people who depend on recycling for an income. The KwaMashu launch marks the 63rd Packa-Ching unit nationally, adding to a growing network that has paid more than R57 million to waste reclaimers and collected over 45 million kilograms of recyclable material across South Africa.
In 2025 alone, more than 8,650 waste reclaimers were registered with the project and received service fee payments, while the initiative supported more than 200 jobs. The new unit will be operated by Itheku Recycling Group, an enterprise founded in 2018 by Reuben Govender. The company has grown from its KwaMashu roots into a recycling and waste management business with operations extending across KwaMashu and Mount Moriah, Pinetown, Durban and KwaDukuza.
Itheku currently provides employment and income opportunities to close to 100 people, including young people from local communities. The company processes an estimated 2,000 tonnes of recyclable material each year, including PET, HDPE, LDPE and PP plastics, as well as cardboard and paper. The new Packa-Ching trailer is expected to increase the company’s collection capacity and operational efficiency while allowing it to reach more communities. The launch brought together Polyco CEO Patricia Pillay, members of the Polyco team, Govender, KwaMashu Ward Councillor Mandla Biyela, representatives from Polyco members Polyoak Packaging and MAK Plastics, as well as local recyclers and community members. Polyco Enterprise Development Manager Lisl Doherty said the partnership demonstrated the value of investing in both recycling infrastructure and the people working within the sector.
“This partnership demonstrates what meaningful collaboration can achieve when we invest not only in recycling infrastructure, but in people,” said Doherty.
She said the initiative would provide reclaimers with a trusted and accessible place to sell recyclable materials while helping them earn sustainable incomes and strengthen their position in the recycling value chain. The partnership is also intended to contribute to job creation, skills development and greater participation in the formal economy. For Itheku Recycling Group, the launch represents an expansion of its existing operations and its ability to create further opportunities for people involved in collecting and recovering recyclable materials.
Polyco said the Packa-Ching initiative forms part of its broader efforts under South Africa’s Extended Producer Responsibility framework to support community-based recycling enterprises, strengthen collection infrastructure and create sustainable income opportunities for people working in the recycling sector. The organisation operates as a Producer Responsibility Organisation and invests in projects aimed at increasing plastic packaging collection and recycling while promoting more sustainable waste management practices.
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