KwaMashu has added a new mobile recycling unit to its streets after Polyco and community operator Itheku Recycling Group launched a Packa‑Ching trailer on 2 September 2026. The initiative is intended to broaden paid, formalised recycling collection across KwaMashu and neighbouring KwaDukuza while strengthening local capacity to collect and process recyclable material.
What was launched and who attended
The launch brought together Polyco CEO Patricia Pillay, members of the Polyco team, site owner Reuben Govender, Ward Councillor Mandla Biyela, representatives from Packa‑Ching members Polyoak Packaging and MAK Plastics, and local recyclers and community members. Sasol provided additional fuel sponsorship for the mobile unit alongside Polyco’s extended producer responsibility (EPR) investment.
How Packa‑Ching works in the community
The Packa‑Ching model pays community members and waste reclaimers directly for plastic, paper and cardboard they collect. Each transaction is recorded through Polyco’s WeighPay platform so collectors receive immediate, traceable payment. According to Polyco, this trailer is the 63rd addition to the national Packa‑Ching network.
- Direct payments to reclaimers for collected recyclables via WeighPay.
- Mobile collection increases access to paid recycling across communities.
- Local processing strengthens Itheku’s capacity to handle PET, HDPE, LDPE, PP, cardboard and paper.
Local impact and wider figures
Itheku Recycling Group, founded in 2018 by Reuben Govender, operates across KwaMashu/Mount Moriah, Pinetown, Durban and KwaDukuza. The company currently provides employment and income opportunities to close to 100 people and processes an estimated 2 000 tonnes of recyclable material a year.
Polyco provided context about the Packa‑Ching programme’s national performance: the project has paid out more than R57 million to waste reclaimers and collected over 45 million kilograms of recyclable material. In 2025, the network registered and paid service fees to over 8 650 reclaimers and, overall, Packa‑Ching has supported more than 200 jobs.
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Packa‑Ching units (national) | 63 |
| Payments to reclaimers | R57 million+ |
| Recyclable material collected (cumulative) | 45 million kg+ |
| Reclaimers registered and paid (2025) | 8 650+ |
| Itheku’s annual processing | ~2 000 tonnes |
| Local jobs at Itheku | Close to 100 |
"This partnership demonstrates what meaningful collaboration can achieve when we invest not only in recycling infrastructure," Polyco CEO Patricia Pillay said at the launch.
Organisers said the mobile trailer will increase Itheku’s collection capacity, operational efficiency and geographic reach. For KwaMashu residents, the immediate benefits are twofold: easier access to a formal collection point and predictable, recorded payments for recyclable material.
Local consequences and next steps
For reclaimers and informal waste workers in KwaMashu, the new unit promises more reliable income flows and formal recognition of their role in the waste value chain. By integrating local operators such as Itheku into a branded national network, Polyco aims to scale community‑level recycling while meeting EPR obligations of packaging producers.
Ward councillors and community leaders at the event highlighted the need to ensure steady operational funding, continued public awareness and accessible collection schedules so residents and small traders can participate. The presence of corporate sponsors and member companies indicates ongoing private‑sector support, but long‑term success will depend on sustained demand for collected materials and smooth logistics between collection, processing and end markets.
For residents wanting to engage with the Packa‑Ching service, organisers advised checking local schedules and bringing separated plastics, cardboard and paper to the mobile unit when it arrives in the ward.
