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Hard Work Recognises Hard Work: The contribution of collectors

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Published: Thursday, 04 December 2025 14:39

While many of us are still asleep in the mornings, collectors are already on the move, pulling trolleys and loading bakkies with material that will fuel South Africa’s recycling chain. By the time we wake up (or tap ‘snooze’), buy-back centres open their gates and branch teams switch on the scales, the day’s first loads are already rolling in.

Collectors, alongside the staff at buy-back centres and our branches, work in a tough environment. Rain, heat, traffic, rising fuel costs and ever-fluctuating prices are all daily obstacles. Without this effort, there’d be a lot less for the rest of the system to process.

At Mpact Recycling we run 14 branches and partner with more than 40 buy-back centres. Together we recover around 600,000 tonnes of recyclable materials each year. That volume doesn’t come from one group alone; it’s the result of thousands of hands doing their part, day after day.

Fairness keeps the chain strong. An accurate scale and a prompt payment are not courtesies. They’re absolutely pivotal. Collectors and suppliers have real costs: fuel, wages, vehicle maintenance, storage and sundry. A scale that drifts even slightly erodes trust. Delayed payment can create numerous complications; especially with finances. It also stalls momentum. It’s why suppliers know exactly when money will hit their accounts. The recycling loop is largely a circle of trust.

And clarity matters just as much. When we added certain Shoprite potato bags to the acceptable cardboard stream this year, the change only worked because we told suppliers, buy-back staff and branch teams exactly what was happening and why. Clear rules and open communication mean leaner loads, less do-overs and faster turnarounds for everyone.

Experience steadies the system too. Many of the people we work with have been in the game for decades. Some started with a trolley and now run structured operations with trucks and teams. They’re not exceptions or heroes; they’re proof that recycling has all the makings of a true career, complete with expertise, exposure, growth and long-term success.

Our branches thrive on structures. When a branch runs smoothly, collectors spend less time waiting and more time collecting. When it doesn’t, it causes a bottleneck – the flow slows down and affects the rest of the whole recycling system.

Collectors gather and deliver. Buy-back centres consolidate. Branches weigh, grade and load. Mills turn yesterday’s boxes into tomorrow’s. That’s the “value chain” we often refer to. And a chain, as we know, is only as strong as its weakest link. So, we keep investing in what strengthens them: accurate scales, fast and fair payment and clear guidelines. Ideally, branches should run like clockwork.

Hard work recognises hard work.

Thank you, collectors, for everything you do. Let’s build an even stronger, more sustainable South Africa in 2026.