Chuma Lalendle's idea, which she developed in collaboration with Sbahle Mgijima, recently secured the first prize in the Stellenbosch Network #IdeasForChange Township Challenge.
The #IdeasForChange Township Challenge seeks to uncover and incubate innovative ideas, business models, process flows and technology with the potential to improve the quality of life of residents of Kayamandi.
Lalendle, who completed her master's degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management at SU in 2021, said she entered the competition because she always wanted to be involved in community projects that have a socio-economic impact.
“I wanted to see how what I've learnt – the skills and knowledge that I acquired – can actually be transferred to the community that I live in to uplift their livelihood."
She says of their winning entry which she describes as an official recycling system with a fit-for-purpose recycling trolley: “I've always thought there could be a better, more efficient way of getting recyclable material into the hands of waste pickers who sell it to make a living. And that is how the two innovative aspects of our idea were conceived. The first being a smart trolley with storage compartments and a pull technology that would make the waste pickers' job easier and the second an App that would allow households to request a waste picker to collect their recyclable material. This would ensure that waste collectors would no longer pick bins, and that recyclable material would not end up in landfills but be re-used and re-purposed as envisioned."
The duo also plans on getting the municipality involved to perhaps consider offering incentives to households playing their part in the recycling process.
Lalendle says their immediate aim is for the project to be successfully implemented in Kayamandi and thereafter rolled out to other communities that fall under the Stellenbosch Municipality. There is also the probability of perhaps expanding it to other townships in the Western Cape and around the country.
“The real hard work begins now. I think only once the project is implemented will I feel that I have actually achieved something, because then I know that lives would have been changed and that there will be direct beneficiaries of the idea."
According to Lalendle the competition also gave her the opportunity to network with other like-minded individuals.
“Not only have I met someone who I am now working with towards a common goal, but I have also met people who are just as passionate as us to see our project come to life," she says.
The #IdeasForChange Challenge was open to all people and businesses living, working or studying in Stellenbosch and the surrounding areas. All entrants received free entry into an Online Value Proposition Masterclass to help them develop their idea and further their business proposition.
Applicants were able to enter one of two categories – one for brand new ideas and a second to support established businesses. Both category finalists were selected by a combination of public vote and input from a judging panel of experts.
