My day started with a dose of pure South African optimism. My Uber driver, David, greeted me with a huge smile and said, “Don’t you just love South Africa? When we work together, we can achieve so much.” He’s right. When our focus shifts from what divides us to what we can contribute, incredible things happen. This belief is at the very heart of the work we do, even in an industry most people would rather not think about: waste management.

Serving Land and Life: Finding Purpose in the Unseen

Our purpose at Interwaste is simple yet profound: to serve land and life. Waste can be dirty and smelly, but the work is deeply meaningful. Section 24 of our Constitution guarantees every South African the right to a healthy environment. We see our work as a service to that right, because the health of our environment—the air we breathe, the water we drink, the soil that grows our food—directly determines our own health. Before I entered this industry, I thought I was a good citizen. I put my rubbish in the bin, and it went “away.” I’ve since learned there is no “away.”

From Waste to Resource: The Shift to a Circular Economy

We must fundamentally change our relationship with what we discard. I challenge you to reimagine your waste—to look at every item not as an end-point, but as a resource. For too long, we have operated on a linear model of “take, make, use, waste.” With a global population nearing eight billion, that system is no longer viable. The future is a circular economy, a model that starts by designing out waste, keeping products and materials in use for as long as possible, and preserving our planet’s precious natural resources. In South Africa, new legislation like the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes are forcing this necessary and positive shift.

Partnership as the Engine of Progress

This transition is too big for any one company, city, or citizen to tackle alone. It requires radical collaboration. As the saying goes, “When you move your focus from competition to contribution, life becomes a celebration.” We live this every day through our partnerships. We work with clients like Danone to turn their yogurt tubs into building materials for school libraries. We partner with the incredible team at Clothes To Good, who take textile waste and create educational tools for early childhood development centers in rural areas, all while creating micro-businesses for women with disabled children.

Grassroots Impact: A Flexible, Local Approach

Our commitment to serving land and life cannot be a one-size-fits-all strategy. The needs of the communities where we operate are diverse, and so our approach must be flexible. Through the YES initiative, we have provided over 98 young people with invaluable work experience, employing most of them afterward. Our “Tops & Tags” program has evolved from collecting bottle caps for wheelchairs to also providing sanitary pads, tackling period poverty to keep young women in school. In Mozambique, where a community next to our depot had no access to clean water, we sponsored a borehole that has radically changed their lives.

Incubation and Empowerment: Growing Businesses from Waste

One of the most powerful ways to create sustainable change is to empower people to build their own futures. We actively seek out enterprise development opportunities. The Mokwena family, a husband-and-wife team, started a small waste-separation business near a mine. We brought them on board, gave them facilities and support, and today they have grown into a beautiful business employing 25 staff members. From a women-run car wash to driver training programs, we believe in incubating small enterprises and creating scalable, lasting livelihoods.

David, my Uber driver, was right. The people of this country are incredible. When we work together, we unlock our greatest potential. By seeing value in what others discard—whether it’s a plastic bottle or a person’s overlooked potential—we can build a more sustainable and prosperous future for all.

This article has been adapted from Kate’s original presentation at the fourth installment of the Impact Series, which addressed the topic, “Corporates As A Force For Good In Communities.” The full presentation is available on Thinkerneur’s YouTube page - see link here.