Gauteng learners turn bottles into big wins

• Gauteng learners turn pester power into real recycling results as schools deliver tons of glass

If there is one thing parents across Gauteng have learned this year, it is that once a child decides recycling matters, there is no ignoring it. Bottles are being rescued from bins, jars are being set aside, and habits at home are starting to shift- all driven by determined learners who are not letting bad habits slide.

This year’s Glass Recycling Schools Competition has seen Gauteng schools turn that persistence into real, measurable impact. St. Paulus Pre-and Primary School has taken first place in the province with 10,747kg of glass collected. Dimpels en Duimpies Nursery School followed closely with 10,210kg, while Gereformeerde Skool Dirk Postma secured third place with 8,443kg.

Together, the top three schools collected nearly 30 tonnes of glass. This translates to roughly 120 000 bottles kept in the recycling loop rather than ending up in landfill. It is a strong reminder that what feels like a small action at home quickly adds up when it is repeated consistently across hundreds of households.

The competition continues to highlight the role children play in shifting behaviour at home. What starts as a school initiative often becomes a household routine, with learners reminding parents to separate glass, questioning where bottles are going, and making sure recycling actually happens.

“This is exactly the kind of behaviour change we want to see,” says Shabeer Jhetam, CEO of The Glass Recycling Company. “Children bring a level of consistency and accountability that is incredibly powerful. They take ownership, and in doing so, they influence what happens at home. That is where recycling habits are formed.”

Glass is one of the few materials that can be recycled endlessly without losing quality. Every bottle or jar collected can be melted down and turned into a new glass packaging, supporting a broader value chain that includes collectors, transporters and manufacturers. When glass is kept separate and clean, it retains its full value within this system.

For families looking to get started, the process is straightforward. Keep glass bottles and jars separate from general waste and drop them off at a glass recycling bank. Many participating and winning schools already have glass recycling banks on site, making it easy to include recycling in the daily school routine. You can also find your nearest glass recycling bank here: https://theglassrecyclingcompany.co.za/glass-banks-new/

Schools interested in participating in the competition can sign up by emailing palesa@tgrc.co.za.

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Staff Reporter

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