From waste metal to meals

19th February 2025

MetPac-SA – the Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) for South Africa’s metal packaging industry – has extended its partnership with Phoenix for the Planet, a community-driven recycling initiative founded in 2021. This collaboration builds on the success of the Trash4Treats project, an initiative spearheaded by [dot]Good, South Africa’s leading cause-marketing agency, that encourages impoverished schools to collect and recycle metal packaging.

Phoenix for the Planet’s vision is to contribute to saving our planet by minimising environmental impact and avoiding unnecessary resource wastage through efficient waste management, recycling, processing, and repurposing. The organisation was appointed as the dedicated recycling partner for the Phoenix area in KwaZulu-Natal, and the partnership has since expanded to further enhance community-driven recycling efforts.

“This collaboration aims to support Phoenix for the Planet in its mission to collect recyclable materials from households, schools, and industries while fostering environmental awareness and reducing landfill waste,” explains Kishan Singh, CEO of MetPac-SA.

Established with the vision of creating a zero-waste community, Phoenix for the Planet has been instrumental in promoting responsible recycling habits and reducing the carbon footprint of local residents. The initiative has mobilised schools and community members to actively participate in environmental conservation efforts.

In 2022, Phoenix for the Planet collaborated with 24 schools, 1,000 households, 10 industries, and the Durban University of Technology. Over the course of the year, 51 tonnes of recyclable waste were collected thanks to the placement of three bins for proper waste segregation, along with one-tonne bags for collecting compressed waste. Collecting recyclables from the schools weekly or monthly (depending on the volume) allowed the initiative to grow the collection to 62 tonnes in 2023 and an impressive 93 tonnes in 2024.

With the support of the Trash4Treats initiative driven by [dot]Good, learners at participating schools are further incentivised to take part in collection and recycling efforts by being rewarded with canned food and other essentials when they collect 25 or more metal cans. Schools also receive financial incentives based on their recycling contributions, creating a win-win scenario for both environmental sustainability and community support.

Expanding reach and impact

The partnership with MetPac-SA and [dot]Good marks a significant milestone for Phoenix for the Planet. Founding member Clive Govender is enthusiastic about the collaboration, highlighting its potential to scale the initiative’s impact. “We are working towards getting 64 schools on board in the area. The purpose of this project is to create awareness among the public,” he says. “So far, roughly 5% of all the recyclables we collect from the neighbourhoods is metal packaging. We aim to grow our reach in the Phoenix area and encourage more schools to join the project. By raising awareness among educators, students, and their families, we can highlight the impact of poor waste management and the benefits of recycling.

“MetPac-SA’s funding will provide us with much-needed resources to strengthen our operations and community engagement activities,” Govender continues.

MetPac-SA CEO Kishan Singh also stresses the importance of collaboration in fostering sustainability. “We are excited about this collaboration with Phoenix for the Planet and look forward to making a meaningful difference in the community,” he says. “MetPac-SA remains dedicated to promoting sustainable metal packaging solutions and supporting initiatives that drive positive societal impact. Supporting SMEs such as Phoenix for the Planet, that foster environmental stewardship, aligns perfectly with our mission.”