Nestlé's RE-Imagine Tomorrow project empowers informal waste reclaimers

Members of the community and waste reclaimers, along with Nestlé, Kudoti and Destination Green, took part in a clean-up in Mqantsa, Tembisa on Saturday, 18 September.

The project will enable 100 waste reclaimers to use technology to track the amount of waste collected and find buyers through Kudoti's technology platform and network.

The waste collectors will be empowered and trained on how to make an income as well as on how to manage a business and their finances. Nestlé has also committed to purchasing equipment to further assist the operation in the long run and will reward the waste reclaimers with a monthly stipend.

Project will be a phased intervention for Tembisa community

The RE-Imagine Tomorrow pilot project will be a phased intervention for the community of Mqantsa in Tembisa.

The company says the beginning of the phase is about awakening a focused increase of waste collection through the informal waste reclaimers, while the second phase, ‘engage’, will include educating the community on rethinking their relationship with waste and reducing their own waste footprint.

The sustain phase will bring to life repurposing by creating beauty out of waste for the benefit of the community through public furniture created from the waste collected. The company expects this approach to “achieve efficient economic growth while minimising negative environmental impact”.

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"Through this initiative, we hope to drive a paradigm shift by formulating and implementing solutions that will safeguard the environment. We hope that initiatives such as RE will encourage people, not only in Tembisa but across the country, to play their part and REthink, REduce and REpurpose," Tohlang said.