South Africa’s young recyclers deliver a glass act worth watching

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South Africa’s school recyclers have not just raised the bar this year – they have shattered it.

The results from The Glass Recycling Company’s Annual Schools Competition show just how powerful a simple habit can become when it is driven by determined learners and backed by equally committed households and guided by dedicated educators. What starts as a bottle set aside at home quickly turns into tonnes of glass moving back into the system.

This year, a few regions – and schools – have pulled well ahead of the pack.

Leading nationally is Laerskool Verkenner with a standout 82,598kg of glass collected, followed closely by Laerskool Kabega on 74,332kg. Both schools, based in Gqeberha, have delivered volumes that significantly outpace the rest of the country.

Bergvliet Primary School in the Western Cape secured third place with 20,436kg, while Isnembe Secondary School in KwaZulu Natal placed fourth with 19,130kg.

The top 3 schools in each province are awarded annual prizes, with first place receiving R30 000, second place R20 000, and third place R10 000. From the provincial first-place winners, one school is then selected as the overall national winner based on the highest volume of glass collected for the year and receives an additional R20 000.

This year, Laerskool Verkenner achieved both distinctions, earning R30 000 as the top school in the Eastern Cape and a further R20 000 as the national winner, receiving a combined total of R50 000.

Together, these four schools collected nearly 200 tonnes of glass. This translates to close to 800 000 bottles kept out of landfill and pushed back into productive use. That is the equivalent weight of more than 40 African elephants – driven largely by children who refused to let recycling slip.

The regional story is just as telling. The Eastern Cape has firmly established itself as a breakout region, delivering volumes at a scale that sets a new benchmark for the competition. Meanwhile, strong and consistent performances from the Western Cape and KwaZulu Natal show that momentum is building across multiple provinces.

What is particularly striking is not just the volumes, but how they are achieved. This is not a top-down campaign. It is bottom-up behaviour change. Learners are taking the message home, reminding parents to separate glass, questioning what goes into the bin, and making recycling part of the daily routine. In many cases, it is the child in the household setting the standard – and not letting it drop.

“This competition shows exactly where real change happens,” says Shabeer Jhetam, CEO of The Glass Recycling Company. “Children bring energy, consistency and a sense of ownership. They do not let the message fade. When they take recycling seriously, it becomes part of how a household operates – and that is where long-term impact is built.”

Glass is one of the most valuable materials in the recycling system. It can be recycled endlessly without losing quality, meaning every bottle and jar collected can be is used to manufacture a new one. That keeps materials in circulation, reduces waste, and supports a network of collectors, transporters and processors across South Africa.

The competition continues to grow each year, and with it, the opportunity for schools to benefit.

Beyond the environmental impact, participating schools gain access to prize money, infrastructure such as glass recycling banks, and the ability to build a strong culture of responsibility and environmental awareness among learners. It also creates a practical way for schools to engage parents and communities in something tangible and measurable.

In short – it is simple to start, easy to scale, and proven to work.

Families can support by separating glass at home and making use of glass recycling banks, many of which are located at participating schools. You can find your nearest drop-off point here: https://theglassrecyclingcompany.co.za/glass-banks-new/

Schools that want to be part of the next wave of top performers can sign up by contacting [email protected].

Top 4 schools nationally

	School Name	Region	TOTAL VOLUMES COLLECTED (kg)	AMOUNT WON
1	Laerskool Verkenner	Eastern Cape (1^st Place)	82,598	R50,000
2	Laerskool Kabega	Eastern Cape (2^nd Place)	74,332	R20,000
3	Bergvliet Primary School	Western Cape (1^ST Place)	20,436	R30,000
4	Isnembe Secondary School	KwaZulu Natal (1^ST Place)	19,130	R30,000

About TGRC:
The Glass Recycling Company (TGRC) consists of a team dedicated to increasing glass recycling in South Africa. We are passionate about ensuring every South African realises the value of recycling glass and actively embraces this practice.

We strive to educate, enable, encourage and inspire individuals to separate their glass for recycling, but do not physically collect or recycle the glass. Our focus extends beyond consumers and communities, but also on trade, industry and corporate South Africa. We also aim to uplift impoverished communities by creating income generating opportunities and skills development in the recycling sector. TGRC is funded by our committed members who manufacture glass or package their products in glass. We believe in the infinite potential of glass to make a real and positive contribution to society. At TGRC we are committed to show that glass recycling is worth the effort!

TGRC’s mandate is to increase awareness of glass recycling in South Africa. The team are passionate about ensuring every South African realises the value of recycling glass and actively embraces this practice. TGRC believes in the infinite potential of glass to make a real and positive contribution to society. TGRC is committed to prove that glass recycling is worth the effort!

For more info visit our website or Facebook page. : www.tgrc.co.za or www.facebook.com/TheGlassRecyclingCo/