By Faridat Salifu
Cape Town Pick n Pay, a prominent South African retailer, is expanding its electronic waste (e-waste) recycling program across Cape Town, introducing newly designed e-waste bins in select stores.
This recent initiative, launched in partnership with EWaste Africa and the E-Waste Recycling Authority (ERA), aims to tackle the country’s growing e-waste problem while creating employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
With South Africa generating around 360,000 tonnes of e-waste annually, more than half of which comes from Gauteng, Pick n Pay is increasing its efforts to address this pressing issue.
The retailer has installed 33 new e-waste bins across its stores, plans to roll out 90 more by the end of the year, and plans to complete the expansion by mid-2025.
These bins are designed to collect a wide range of discarded electronics, from small items like mobile phones and cables to larger appliances such as washing machines.
The initiative is more than just an environmental effort. It also aims to unlock new job opportunities, particularly for people with disabilities, by prioritising manual dismantling and repair processes.
In partnership with ERA’s Enterprise Development Programme (NEED), based at the Cape Town Association for the Physically Disabled in Bridgetown, the program trains disabled individuals in dismantling, repairing, and refurbishing e-waste.
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Steffen Burrows, Pick n Pay’s sustainability manager, highlighted the initiative’s social impact: “These new e-waste bins make it easier for our customers to dispose of their old electronics responsibly.
Together, we’re reducing environmental impact, strengthening local recycling infrastructure, and supporting job creation for people with disabilities. It’s a small action with a big impact for our communities and the planet.”
To date, 65 individuals, many of whom live with disabilities, have been trained through the program. Participants like Faneezwa Kapa, who uses a wheelchair, and Wayne Jansen, who became disabled due to diabetes, have found new purpose and skills through the program. “I was homebound before this programme,” said Kapa. “I’m now learning many things that I never knew before.” Jansen added, “Many companies overlook people like me because of age and disability. Here, we learn that a broken appliance doesn’t necessarily mean it’s beyond repair.”
E-waste is the fastest-growing type of municipal waste in South Africa and often contains hazardous materials like lead and lithium. Improper disposal poses significant environmental risks, while low recycling rates mean valuable resources go untapped.
By collecting and recycling e-waste, Pick n Pay and its partners are helping to conserve natural resources, reduce environmental impact, and create jobs in a country struggling with high unemployment rates.
The new e-waste bins are expected to collect 1,000 tonnes of e-waste annually, equivalent to the weight of a large cargo ship. Under the initiative, EWaste Africa will collect e-waste from the bins and deliver it to legally licensed recycling facilities, where it will be depolluted and processed into new products, such as housing blocks. Items that cannot be repaired will be sent to ERA-affiliated service providers for valuable material extraction.
As more e-waste bins are introduced in Pick n Pay stores, ERA plans to expand its job creation program further. “We see this as a great opportunity not only to manage e-waste more effectively but also to provide meaningful employment for people with disabilities,” an ERA spokesperson said.
With around 7% of South Africa’s population living with disabilities and job opportunities scarce, initiatives like Pick n Pay’s e-waste recycling program provide a vital lifeline. The retailer’s efforts are crucial as South Africa grapples with managing its e-waste problem.
By combining environmental responsibility with social impact, Pick n Pay demonstrates how corporate initiatives can contribute to sustainable development goals and make a real difference in communities. As the retailer rolls out 210 new e-waste bins nationwide, it remains committed to reducing electronic waste in landfills and creating a more inclusive workforce.
