Schools for Clean Catchments project set to drive environmental awareness, cleaner waterways
21 May 2026
The City of Cape Town’s Urban Waste Management (UWM) Directorate has officially launched the Schools for Clean Catchments recycling pilot project, a new initiative aimed at empowering learners to play an active role in protecting the environment while improving the health of local waterways.
The initiative forms part of the City’s Mayoral Priority Programme for sanitation and inland water quality, which focuses on improving the health of river systems and reducing pollution at source through coordinated, multi-directorate interventions.
Schools participating in the pilot will be supported to separate and divert recyclable waste from landfill and earn an income from recyclable materials.
The initiative will begin in the Soet River catchment with Silukhanyo Primary School in Strand selected as the first participating school. Following the pilot phase, the City plans to expand the programme to additional schools in the Diep River and Black River catchment areas, further strengthening efforts to protect Cape Town’s inland water systems.
‘Schools are critical platforms for shaping behaviours and building awareness. Through recycling activities that will now occur on school grounds, learners are not only educated about environmental responsibility, but are also given a chance to participate in waste diversion efforts. Improving inland water quality is primarily about changing behaviour and waste disposal practices. By working with schools and getting learners involved, we are investing in long-term change that will benefit our rivers, communities, and future generations,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Waste Management, Alderman Grant Twigg.
Over time, increased awareness and participation are expected to contribute to improved environmental conditions in the Soet River catchment and beyond.
‘Much of the waste polluting Cape Town’s rivers and catchments is recyclable. By diverting this material before it enters the environment, the programme supports both waste minimisation, and improved river and coastal water quality,’ added Alderman Twigg.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
