Gauteng learners are using their “pester power” to drive meaningful change at home, with bottles being rescued from bins, jars set aside, and household habits shifting, according to the results of this year’s Glass Recycling Schools Competition.
The competition, organised by The Glass Recycling Company, has seen learners across the province take the lead in promoting recycling, turning school initiatives into household routines. Parents have reported that once a child decides recycling matters, “there is no ignoring it,” the company said.
St Paulus Pre-and Primary School took first place in the province, collecting 10 747kg of glass. Dimpels en Duimpies Nursery School followed with 10 210kg, and Gereformeerde Skool Dirk Postma secured third place with 8 443kg. Together, the top three schools collected nearly 30 tonnes of glass – roughly 120 000 bottles kept in the recycling loop rather than ending up in landfill.
“This is exactly the kind of behaviour change we want to see,” said 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. Each bottle or jar collected can be melted down and turned into new packaging, supporting a broader value chain that includes collectors, transporters, and manufacturers. When kept separate and clean, glass retains its full value.
For families looking to get involved, the process is simple: keep glass bottles and jars separate from general waste and drop them off at a recycling bank. Many schools participating in the competition already have glass recycling banks on site, making it easy to include recycling in daily routines.
Schools interested in joining the competition can sign up by emailing [email protected]
Top Gauteng Schools 2026 – Glass Recycling Competition
- St. Paulus Pre-and Primary School – 10 747 kg of glass collected – Prize: R30 000
- Dimpels en Duimpies Nursery School – 10 210 kg of glass collected – Prize: R20 000
- Gereformeerde Skool Dirk Postma – 8 443 kg of glass collected – Prize: R10 000
Saturday Star Reporter
iol.co.za
