Get Involved

Do you live in a sectional title block?
If you are living in a sectional title scheme it is neccessary to have the full co-oporation of the body corporate, residents and cleaning staff to make the system work effectively. We find the most effective system is whereby we allocate and relabel a percentage of your existing black council wheelie bins for the storage of mixed recyclable items. These bins will be marked with the Think Twice recycling logo and residents may deposit any recyclable items into them. Educational letters will be sent to all residents explaining what can and cannot be recycled. Once weekly the bins are emptied and the recyclable items are taken to our recyling facility in Parow. Here all recyclable materials are sorted into various catagories, ready to be recycled.

Through our experience we have found that either the residents are resposible for taking their own refuse to the general refuse area of the building or they place it outside their apartment for the general cleaning staff to remove. If the latter case is applied then we encourage residents to use specific clear recycling bags for the storage of their recyclable items inside their own apartment so that the cleaning staff may easily itentify recyclable materials. i.e. black bags for non-recyclable items, clear bags for recyclable items. Recycling bags are available from most general supermarkets. Alternatively you can purchase them directly from Mandla recycling in monthly quantaties and have them delivered directly to your door. We have found that having two seperate bins in your apartment makes recycling a second nature.

If you are living in a sectional title block and would like to get involved, please send us your details and we will send a representative to approach the body corporate and best implement a system for your block. For more information please contact us here.

Do you work for a business or commercial establishment?
If you would like to come on board, please contact us for a representative to visit and best implement a system for your company. To qualify for our free collection service we have only one requirement: the business must already have a refuse removal account with the City of Cape Town. The more items are recycled at your workplace, the lesser the tarrif for waste removal, as we collect all recyclable material. We are able to collect frequently enough to ensure there is no over accumulation of recyclable materials. There are two Mandla recycling trucks collecting commercial daily and with a days notice we can arrange an additional collection in busy months.

We have found in most establishments that up to 70% of your general waste can recyclable. Thus if an effective system is put in place and all staff comply, you could achieve up to a 70% cost saving on your current collection tarrifs. You may also reduce costs by cutting down on the amounts of waste you are giving to private refuse collection contractors by joining our initiative. We also have available to puchase 240 litre blue recycling bins if required. Please contact Mandla Recycling for a site inspection and introduction by clicking here. We provide educational material and training for the implementation to be successful.

Residential Title
Unfortunately we do not yet offer our collection service to private residents. However you may drop your recyclables at the nearest drop off site in Tramway Road, Seapoint or arrange something with a nearby sectional title block or business.

What can be recycled?

PAPER: Old letters, Computer paper, Envelopes, Books, Coloured paper (invoices, etc.), Newspapers, Magazines,Cardboard

GLASS: Bottles and jars �?rinse and remove the lid (which can also be recycled)

PLASTIC: Anything with the recycling logo regardless of number as well as any bags, bottles, tubs, coat hangers, lids and tops, containers, sweet wrappers and chip packets.

METALS: Cans, Coat hangers, Lids and Tops, Aluminium foil and any Solid metal items.

TETRAPAK: Foil lined cartons and containers mainly from Juice and Milk.

POLYSTYRENE (Styrofoam): Food trays and Packing foam.

What cannot be recycled �?No Thanks

PAPER: Paper cups and plates, Blueprint paper,Cigarette ends, Carbon paper, Waxed cartons

GLASS: Broken Windows/Windscreens/Mirrors, Glass kitchenware, Light bulbs, Crystal.

PLASTIC: Disposable nappies.

METALS: Electrical appliances, Batteries, Needles, Aerosol cans or Paint tins.

ORGANIC WASTE: Food scraps, Garden waste, Vegetable peelings, Wood.

TEXTILES: Old clothing, Shoes, Furniture.

OTHER: Any overly dirty or contaminated items.

Why Recycle?

PROBLEM: Considerable amounts of raw materials and energy are used in the production of consumables and packaging that we create in massive quantities to support our lifestyle. The effect that this is having on the environment and the earth’s resources is well documented as we all know about greenhouse gasses, global warming, and the depletion of natural resources.

SOLUTION: Through the process of taking recyclable materials that would otherwise be considered waste and turning them back into raw materials, the consumption of both ”virgin�?raw materials and energy is greatly reduced, and hence also greenhouse gas emissions. Recycling is a key concept of modern waste management as it usually requires significantly less energy, water and other precious resources to recycle materials than to produce new materials

PROBLEM: In Cape Town we are running out of landfill (dumping) space at an alarming rate. We currently dump approximately 6 000 tons of waste every day. As an example, 1 ton of waste will fill up a standard 3m x 2m room right up to the roof. So imagine 6000 of these rooms being filled with waste every single day.At the current rate we only have enough landfill space for the next 3 years. By the time the last landfill site closes down; we will be building mountains of waste equivalent to 6000 rooms per day.

SOLUTION: By separating the recyclable material from the rest of the waste we will be greatly reducing the amount of dumped materials filling up our landfills. Countries such as the Netherlands which have highly developed recycling practices in place are recycling up to 90% of their total waste where as others such as Australia and Brazil with relatively young recycling programs are saving up to 50% of their recyclable waste. In South Africa less than 20% of our recyclable waste is actually recycled because until now effective systems of sustainable waste management have not been in place. The rest of the world is doing it why aren't we? It is the right thing to do!