MES Durbanville collaborates with IWMSA to promote paper recycling and sustainability

Mould Empower Serve (MES) in Durbanville has partnered with the Western Cape branch of the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA) to launch a paper recycling initiative aimed at promoting environmental sustainability while generating additional income for its programmes supporting homeless people.

The initiative introduced a dedicated paper recycling stream at the MES Homeless Support Centre.

Lunar Magidigidi, spokesperson for MES, said the project responds to the growing volume of donated books and papers that cannot be reused and would otherwise be sent to landfill, despite paper being highly recyclable.

"We chose to take on paper recycling because our centre regularly receives large volumes of donated books and paper. This partnership allows us to approach waste management more creatively, turning excess paper into an opportunity to generate income while promoting responsible recycling within our community," she said.

As part of the project, IWMSA provided three co-branded wheelie bins for the collection and storage of paper recyclables at the Durbanville centre on Tuesday, February 10. 

A Bellville-based waste management company has partnered with the initiative and will collect the paper at no cost to MES. The company will also provide a rebate based on the weight of material collected, creating a potential income stream for the organisation.

Earl Jonsen, acting centre manager at MES Durbanville, said the partnership was an excellent way to start the year.

"This is important for MES as an organisation because it is an opportunity to explore other avenues outside of what we already know, and we are learning something new about how to dispose of paper in the correct manner. We also strongly believe in partnerships and collaboration," he said.

According to Ms Magidigidi, the remuneration generated from the recycled paper will be paid directly into MES’s account to support the sustainability of its programmes. In addition, an appointed beneficiary at the centre will be compensated for sorting and managing the recyclable material.

"This initiative supports environmental sustainability, strengthens community recycling behaviour, and provides direct financial and awareness benefits to MES and the broader Durbanville community," she said.

The recycling system is currently being piloted at the Durbanville branch, with plans to expand the initiative to other MES branches in the future.

Community members are encouraged to donate paper waste to the centre. Collections by IWMSA will take place on request, as dates and times are not fixed at this stage.

Monique Coetzee, vice-chairperson of the Western Cape branch committee of the IWMSA, said the organisation aims not only to promote sound waste management practices, but also to demonstrate them through practical action.

"This initiative is a practical way to drive increased recycling, build awareness around the value of waste, and support cleaner communities. Knowing that this effort also creates an income stream for an important organisation like MES makes the impact even more meaningful, and we are proud to be part of it,” she said.

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