The School Recycling Competition was hosted by the city’s Waste Management Directorate as part of the 'Back to School – Keep My School Clean' initiative, launched in early 2026 under the National Waste Management Strategy to promote environmental responsibility among learners. Sixty-nine schools initially registered for the competition, collecting recyclables in three categories—paper and cardboard, plastics, and cans—with 54 schools submitting verified data on the volume of materials collected and diverted.
Yellowwood Park Primary School was recognized as the top performer in the paper and cardboard category, Atholl Heights Primary School led in plastics, and Phakathi Secondary School achieved the highest collection in the cans category. The top three schools in each category received cash prizes of R15,000, R10,000, and R5,000 respectively, with the funds designated to reinforce their school-based waste management programs and infrastructure.
Recycling companies and buy-back centres played a vital role by collecting the materials from schools and providing financial compensation based on the volume of recyclables delivered, fostering community-industry partnerships. Beyond reducing landfill waste, the initiative improved school environments and equipped students and staff with hands-on experience in sustainable waste management practices and environmental stewardship.
Councillor Mdu Nkosi, chairperson of the Technical Services Committee, praised the participating schools for their collective effort, emphasizing that collaboration is essential to building cleaner schools and communities. The competition’s success underscores how structured, municipally supported environmental programs can mobilize student action to achieve measurable ecological outcomes, turning classroom learning into real-world impact.