Exploring Gqberha's Top Recycling Solutions with The Re-Trade Project in Walmer Heights
- Dean Weiss
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
The Re-Trade Project is a green-focused social enterprise and recycling drop-off point located in Walmer Heights, Gqeberha. It serves surrounding suburbs including Walmer, Walmer Township, Greenshields Park, Broadwood, Lovemore Heights, Mount Pleasant, Pari Park, Schoenmakerskop, Overbaakens, Fairview, Charlo, and Salisbury Park.
What does The Re-Trade Project encompass?
The Re-Trade Project provides a space where individuals—particularly informal pickers—can exchange recyclable materials for essential goods such as food, toiletries, blankets, and clothing. These items are available at the on-site Trade Store and are primarily donated by members of the Fountain Vineyard Church and other community supporters.
On Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, the centre welcomes registered pickers, individuals with questions about recycling, and those delivering large volumes of recyclables. Volunteers run the store and assist participants. Profits from the sale of recyclables are reinvested to restock the shelves, supporting the long-term sustainability of the Trade Store.
Clean recyclable waste can be deposited into the prepared chutes at the site 24/7; the gate opens automatically on approach. Visitors outside business hours are asked to be respectful of nearby residents by avoiding making too much noise when dropping off their recycling.
The Re-Trade Project also offers basic recycling skills training, helping promote environmental awareness. It promotes recycling as a practical, accessible habit that reduces landfill use, conserves resources, and improves local environmental health.
Through community engagement initiatives and its value-for-value exchange system, the project aims to foster self-sufficiency, restore dignity, and support vulnerable populations with compassion and empowerment.
Location and Contact Information for The Re-Trade Project
22 Newcombe Avenue (alongside the Fountain Vineyard Christian Fellowship)
Walmer Height
Port Elizabeth
6070
Contact The Re-Trade Project on: 041 367 1100
Email: theretradeproject@gmail.com
The Trade Store
The Trade Store is open on Mondays and Wednesdays for pickers to collect "rewards" for their recycling efforts.
Recyclable Items Accepted by The Re-trade Project
Separate chutes for White and Mixed Paper.
Paper:
White Paper: Office paper includes printer paper, writing paper, school books, and envelopes.
Mixed Paper: All non-white paper can be mixed.
Please ensure that the white paper is collected and deposited separately from coloured paper.
The cardboard chute for smaller cardboard items and the new storage for larger cardboard boxes.
Cardboard:
This includes cardboard boxes, cereal boxes, cardboard dividers, toilet paper rolls, egg cartons, and any other cardboard packaging. Larger cardboard boxes can be placed in the open recycling box located near the chutes. All cardboard should be folded flat.
Glass recycling is a welcome addition to The Re-Trade Projects Recycling Program. Glass:
Glass containers, including beer and wine bottles, jam jars, and bottles used for sauces, are allowed. Ensure jars and bottles are clean inside. Lids may be reattached if possible. There's no need to remove labels.
Chutes for the Aluminium Cans and the Steel Cans
Metals:
Aluminium Cans - Beverage cans, such as those for beer and soft drinks, can either be crushed or left in their original shape.
Steel cans - These include food cans, aerosol cans, and paint cans. Food cans should be
cleaned and labels removed (where possible), aerosol cans should be empty, and paint
tins should, as far as possible, not contain paint.
Plastic:
No. 1 Plastic bottles: Soft drink, water and other drink bottles. Bottle caps are to go in a separate chute.
HDPE No. 2 Plastic: Bleach, detergent, household cleaner bottles, sturdy cosmetic bottles, fruit juice bottles, plastic milk containers, shampoo or conditioner bottles, shopping bags, motor oil bottles, yoghurt, butter and margarine containers.
Bottle caps: Water and soft drink bottle caps
PP No.5 Plastic: Straws, some bottle caps and lids, some medicine bottles, rope, some carpets and food containers (margarine tubs, sour cream, syrup and yoghurt containers)
A chute for Tetra Pak products - Please rinse before disposing
Tetra Pak:
Long Life Milk, Custard or Juice Cartons: drain and rinse
Conclusion
The Re-Trade Project is an excellently managed and welcoming recycling initiative in Gqberha. This initiative is vital for the city's sustainability, promoting environmental benefits and community responsibility.
They collaborate with:
Communities: providing recycling platforms and environmental education
Organisations: partnering on green products and eco-focused projects
Individuals: enhancing trading skills and work ethic
Schools and Families: encouraging education and participation through tours and programs.
Volunteers and staff are sorting the recycling collected by the pickers
The Re-Trade Project collects recycling items from most categories, whereas many drop-off points target only one or two types of recycling. Its suburban location is pleasant and easy to access, unlike many other local municipal recycling points, making it a pleasure to visit. The addition of a dome for glass recycling, along with extra space for larger cardboard boxes, shows their commitment to meeting the community's needs.
The Re-Trade Project serves as a guiding light for community recycling, environmental education, and supporting individuals struggling to provide for their families.
Remember, all recycling products should be cleaned and sorted correctly before being dropped off for recycling.
Comments