The Glass Recycling Company (TGRC) is proud of the many women within the recycling industry who go above and beyond to make a difference to the environment and continuously empower others through their actions.

Tiny Khahlenya, based in Ekurhuleni started her recycling journey collecting returnable glass bottles over 10 years ago in order to do good in the community and for the environment. She would return these bottles for their deposits to make a profit.

To date Khahlenya has managed to expand and grow her business and now collects glass as far as Delmas. “My business has grown exponentially and I intend to work hard to purchase a new truck soon. I enjoy recycling as I am able to give back to the communities by doing this. Most of my customers are elderly woman and I am trying to do my part in eradicating poverty in my community,” she explains.

Khahlenya shared that she appreciates the hard work that the women who she works with are doing constantly collecting glass, she is always on the lookout for how she can make their work easier. She sometimes pays them in advance when they experience cash flow problems and this helps her to maintain a good relationship with these elderly women.

“I feel empowered by the fact that I can make a difference to the environment and the lives of those around me. I have received great support from TGRC with infrastructure that they have supplied to me for my business, which makes a big difference,” she says.