What we do
Cash for Trash turns trash into treasure. Let's go on tour to find out, step by step, how the process works. Below we also explain how we recycle our trash.
How it works
Step 01 Collecting trash
People from the community are collecting trash from the streets. There you will find any kind of trash like paper, plastics, tin and glass. Cash for trash hands out plastic trashbags to the people in where they have to collect and sort out their trash.
Step 02 Delivering trash
On scheduled afternoons, people from the community can bring their sorted trash to Cash for trash. In order to recycle the trash properly we seperate all kinds of trash like plastic bottles, paper and glass. You can read more about our recyclingproces on our page, How we recycle.
Step 03 Receiving stamps
Everyone person receives a registration card on which we count the amount of bags that someone brings. Every bag is worth one cash for trash stamp. We keep the stampcards in our own administration. In this way we prevent theft or corruption with the stamps.
Step 04 Sanitizing
Once they have given their trashbags and received their stamps, someone will bring them to the shop. Before they enter the shop they can sanitise their hands. It's one of the basic principles we try to teach the community.
Step 05 Cash for trash shop
After they santised their hands, the can enter the shop one by one. In the shop they can buy basic essentials like bread, vegetables and other groceries with their stamps.
Our recycling company
Re-Purpose
Re-purpose is a local recycling company in Durban. Their focus is on turning waste into reusable products and achieving a fully circular economy.
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Every week they come with their truck to pick up our big bags with trash from our site. At this moment we only collect and sort out plastics. At Re-purpose these products are collected, separated and processed through being baled, granulated and pelletised, thereafter sold to manufacturers for re-use.