Petco, South Africa’s Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO), has partnered with legendary DJ and community leader GrandMaster Ready D and his youth development organisation, G-CAP, to inspire a culture of recycling among young people.
Through the collaboration, the partners are bringing music, performance and education directly into schools, connecting with learners in a fun and authentic way. The initiative includes a three-month recycling competition aimed at raising awareness about the value of PET plastic bottles, jars and liquid board packaging, while encouraging separation at source and sustainable recycling habits.
The campaign launched on 25 August 2025 at Duneside Primary School in Mitchells Plain, where GrandMaster Ready D and his energetic dance crew entertained and educated learners through music, dance and interactive performances. Selected schools across Mitchells Plain will now compete to collect the most recyclable materials, with the winning school receiving a grand prize to improve its facilities. The winners will be announced in November.
To support schools, Petco and G-CAP are providing colour-coded bins, signage and bulk storage bags for collected items. A local collection company has also been contracted to manage the recyclables. Educational posters developed with the Pick n Pay Schools Club will be distributed, extending the impact into classrooms. Wavecrest Primary, one of the participating schools, has already incorporated the materials into its lessons, giving learners the tools to practice sustainable living.
GrandMaster Ready D said the project was about using creativity to drive positive change: “As artists and mentors, we have the responsibility to use our influence positively. We’re showing young people that recycling doesn’t have to be boring; it’s about taking pride in your community, protecting the planet and using creativity as a force for change.”
Petco CEO Telly Chauke highlighted how the initiative reflects the organisation’s wider mission to build a circular economy in South Africa. “Without our dedicated brand owner members and recycling partners, projects like this aren’t possible. Our mission is to divert recyclable packaging from landfill and the environment and to keep it in the circular economy, because it is valuable and creates income opportunities for many South Africans. We want the youth to understand what the circular economy is, how they can contribute to it today, and lead it in the future,” she said.
Through this programme, thousands of learners will gain first-hand experience of recycling and take these lessons back into their homes and communities — proving that small actions can create big change.
