Cape Town’s efforts to build a cleaner, more sustainable city are gaining momentum as the Urban Waste Management Directorate prepares to expand its Think Twice recycling programme to additional suburbs in the south of the city. The rollout begins in November 2025, with residents set to receive starter information packs in their letterboxes in the coming weeks.
The expansion coincides with the opening of the City’s new Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) at the Coastal Park Disposal Facility, which became operational on 1 November. The modern plant is expected to significantly increase the volume of waste diverted from landfill, strengthening Cape Town’s long-term shift toward a circular, more environmentally responsible waste system.
Think Twice provides households with a once-a-week recycling collection using clear bags. Recyclables picked up in the newly added suburbs will be processed at the Coastal Park MRF, operated by the City’s contractor, Resource Innovations.
New suburbs joining the Think Twice service in November 2025 include:
Grassy Park; Pelican Heights; Plumstead; Constantia; Peacock Close; Wynberg; Tokai (north of Tokai Road); Strandfontein; Ottery; Bergvliet; Diep River; Zeekoeivlei; Wetton; and Meadowridge.
Each household will receive a starter pack with information on how the service works and what materials are accepted. Recycling will be collected on the same day as regular bin collection. Those who do not receive a pack can request one via Wastewise.User@capetown.gov.za or info@riafrica.co.za.
The City says areas bordering the Coastal Park landfill were prioritised to keep transport distances short and improve the efficiency of the service. The approach helps reduce fuel use, lower emissions and manage operational costs, ensuring the free recycling service remains financially sustainable.
Recyclables from Far South suburbs already participating in Think Twice will also be processed at the new MRF, which is expected to serve as a key hub for recycling in the region. While more suburbs are likely to join the programme in future, the City notes that expansion will depend on budget availability for additional collection vehicles and upgrades to increase processing capacity at the Coastal Park facility.
Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Waste Management, Alderman Grant Twigg, said the expansion marks an important step in Cape Town’s waste-reduction journey.
“The growth of the clear-bag programme and the opening of the new Coastal Park MRF bring us closer to a cleaner, greener city,” he said. “By taking part in recycling, residents help reduce landfill waste and contribute to a circular economy that can create jobs and new opportunities.”
Residents are reminded to keep recyclables clean and dry. Items contaminated with food or liquid cannot be recovered and will end up in landfill.
For households not yet included in Think Twice, recycling can still be done through private recyclers or by using City drop-off facilities.
