Building a regional waste recovery system that works — for people, business, and the planet.
The East Coast Recycling Project (ECRP) is a regional collaboration aimed at strengthening South Africa’s waste recovery value chain — with a particular focus on plastics in KwaZulu-Natal. Through strategic partnerships, local business support, and shared data systems, the project is helping to grow collection volumes, improve the sustainability of Buy-Back Centres (BBCs), and foster a more circular economy.
This is not just another recycling initiative. ECRP is about creating long-term, measurable impact through coordinated action, smart investment, and community engagement.
What the ECRP aims to achieve
At its core, the project is a response to the need for greater alignment across the waste recovery ecosystem — from informal waste pickers to large Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs). Together, we’re working towards:
- Recovering at least 6,300 tonnes of plastic by February 2026
- Expanding the capacity and viability of community-based Buy-Back Centres
- Establishing a shared, verified collections dataset, confidentially shared with PROs
- Supporting a more inclusive system that embraces all waste materials, not just high-value recyclables
How it all works
The ECRP is coordinated by Green Corridors as the project management organisation, with core funding from the Alliance to End Plastic Waste and Unilever.
Key partners include:
- Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) – aligning regional investment strategies and reporting needs
- Government & industry associations – helping shape policy, encourage participation, and foster enabling environments
- Local BBCs and waste pickers – the frontline of waste recovery, supported through service agreements, subsidies, and capacity-building
The project is supported by a R6.1 million first-year budget, covering everything from operations and equipment to short-term subsidies and digital tracking tools like BanQu.
Our approach to impact
The Programme focuses on seven key interventions, tailored to strengthen the value chain:
- Investing in BBCs through business sustainability plans and co-funding
- Formalising waste pickers’ roles with digital registration and verified payment systems
- School programme that promote environmental education while linking collections to local BBCs
- Environmental clean-ups focusses on rivers and beaches, rewarding separation at source, including non-recyclables
- Piloting household separation schemes through municipal partnerships like eThekwini’s Orange Bag initiative
- Facilitating municipal learning exchanges with SALGA to scale recovery systems
- Strengthening local supply chains in BBC areas through collaboration with the Sustainable Seas Trust
Tracking progress, celebrating milestones
The project officially launched in February 2025, and progress is already well underway:
- Multiple BBCs have been onboarded, with service agreements and digital tracking in place
- Stakeholder review meetings are scheduled quarterly to keep everyone aligned and accountable
- Schools programmes, mapping projects, and co-investment planning are set to roll out throughout 2025
- A full annual report and planning session for Year Two is scheduled for February 2026
Want to get involved or learn more?
We welcome partners, collaborators, and community champions. If you'd like to be part of this growing movement towards a more sustainable and inclusive waste economy, get in touch:
📧