Pictured above: WESSA Project Coordinator Louelle Philander with learners and educators from Concordia Primary School, Okiep Primary School, Ferdinand Brecher Primary School and Hoerskool Namakwaland.
As part of the International E-Waste Day celebrations on 14 October, schools participating in the eWASA–WESSA SA Schools Waste Management and Education Project took part in educational excursions to the Lifestone Recycling facility in Steinkopf.
The visits gave learners an opportunity to experience the recycling process first-hand, connecting what they had learnt through WESSA’s educational activities with practical, real-world applications. At the facility, they saw how recyclable materials collected from participating schools and surrounding communities, including paper, plastic, cans and other metals, are processed.
Pictured: Learners from participating schools discover what happens behind the scenes at a recycling facility.
Exploring the value of e-waste recycling
The inclusion of e-waste (electronic waste) in the project has introduced another opportunity for participating schools. Old, used and unwanted electronic equipment is now collected alongside other recyclable materials, creating an additional opportunity for schools to generate income through their recycling efforts.
During the visits, learners were introduced to the process of dismantling electronic equipment and recovering its components, giving them insight into another important part of the recycling industry.
Pictured above: Shawn Karstens from Lifestone Recycling explains the process of e-waste collection and processing.
The excursions were met with great enthusiasm, with learners eagerly asking questions about the facility’s processes and operations. Mr Karstens from Lifestone Recycling highlighted the financial benefits of recycling, as well as the potential employment and business opportunities within the recycling industry. He also demonstrated how waste can become a valuable resource within a circular economy.
Putting learning into action
The learning experience extended beyond the recycling facility, with learners taking part in a speed clean-up competition around the premises. The competition saw teams collecting plastic waste, cans, old televisions and other recyclable materials, filling their bags as they competed to collect the most waste.
Pictured above: Learners from participating schools take part in the clean-up competition.
Once the competition ended, the collected bags were marked and transported into the recycling facility to be weighed. The school that collected the highest amount of waste was declared the winner for the day.
The clean-up competition winners were:
Day 1: Primere Skool Springbok
Day 2: Hoerskool Namakwaland
Day 2 – Primary School winner: Okiep Primary School
Day 3: Okiep High School
Pictured above: Clean-up competition winners from Okiep Primary School, Okiep High School, Primere Skool Springbok and Hoerskool Namakwaland.
The excursions offered learners a full day of engaging, practical waste management education. More importantly, they demonstrated how collective action and participation in recycling initiatives can benefit both the environment and the schools involved.