A new recycling initiative is taking shape in Kruger National Park.
Image: Petco Site
As reported by Bizcommunity, SANParks is partnering with Petco to pilot an improved waste separation system at one of the park’s busiest visitor hubs.
The project is currently being tested at the Tshokwane picnic site near Skukuza, a high traffic stop that serves thousands of day visitors every month. Picnic sites are a key focus for waste interventions, as more than 70 percent of Kruger’s visitors enter the park for the day, often bringing packaged food and drinks with them.
The pilot introduces a three-bin, colour-coded system designed to make waste separation simple and intuitive. Green bins are used for recyclable materials such as plastic bottles and packaging, grey bins are reserved for general waste, and brown bins are allocated for compostable food scraps. By separating waste at source, SANParks hopes to significantly increase recycling rates and reduce the amount of material sent to landfill.
Early results suggest the approach is working. During the recent festive season, Tshokwane recorded sales of more than 43 000 food and beverage items. Over the same period, the new system helped recover more than 500 kilograms of recyclable packaging, material that would previously have ended up as general waste.
Designing bins for a national park environment required careful planning. Kruger is home to wildlife known for investigating food smells, including baboons, hyenas and honey badgers. To address this, Petco worked with local manufacturer Pioneer Plastics to develop animal-resistant, 240-litre bins that are securely anchored and difficult for animals to open. The bins are also UV-resistant to withstand prolonged exposure to harsh sunlight.
For Petco, the project supports its broader mandate to grow recycling in South Africa by increasing collection volumes and improving infrastructure. The organisation believes that national parks present a valuable opportunity to demonstrate how effective waste management can work in high-volume, environmentally sensitive locations.
Tourism operator Tourvest, which manages food and retail outlets at Tshokwane, says the pilot also provides valuable data. By tracking what types of waste are generated and how much is recycled, operators can make better decisions around product selection, packaging choices and long-term sustainability strategies.
Following the initial success of the Tshokwane pilot, SANParks plans to roll out the system to additional picnic sites, including Nkuhlu, overlooking the Sabie River, and Afsaal, near the Malelane Gate. If successful, the model could be expanded across other rest camps and high-use areas within the park.
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