Waste not competition highlights link between environmental and child health

A new national initiative, #WasteNot, is shining a spotlight on the connection between environmental health and children's wellbeing by encouraging South Africans to take practical steps to reduce waste in their communities.

The competition is a collaboration between Create Change, an initiative of the DG Murray Trust (DGMT), and Hold My Hand, a national campaign supporting the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC). The strategy places children and teenagers at the heart of South Africa's development goals while promoting their inclusion in efforts to protect the environment and reduce pollution.

The campaign comes amid concerns over unequal waste collection services across the country. With only around six in 10 households receiving weekly waste collection, many communities are forced to burn rubbish, contributing to air pollution that poses serious health risks to children. Survey data indicates that 55% of households burn their waste every week or every second week.

Waste accumulation also contaminates water sources, attracts disease-carrying rodents and blocks stormwater drainage systems, increasing the risk of flooding during heavy rains.

"The link between children's health and environmental health is clear when the environment is sick, our children suffer," says Rahima Essop, Communications Director at DGMT.

Children living in informal settlements and rural communities are particularly vulnerable, facing exposure to illegal dumping sites and toxic smoke from burning waste. According to the campaign, repeated infections caused by poor environmental conditions can weaken children's immune systems and affect their ability to absorb nutrients.

"Children who are malnourished and get repeated stomach bugs are at higher risk of stunting because their ability to absorb nutrients is compromised. Preventing infections through proper waste removal, along with effective water and sewage management, is one of the environmental pathways to tackling stunting," Essop adds.

South Africa generates an estimated 122 million tonnes of waste annually, with the majority ending up in landfill sites that are rapidly reaching capacity. Organisers say addressing the problem requires action from government, businesses, civil society and individual households.

"If we want less waste, we must produce less waste. Companies must stop producing so much packaging and products that end up in dumps, like single-use plastics and disposable products. This is why regulations are in place to ensure plastic and packaging companies take responsibility for the volume of waste they produce," Essop explains.

The campaign also calls on municipalities to improve waste collection services, particularly in underserved communities, and expand recycling infrastructure. Currently, only 10.5% of households separate recyclable packaging from other household waste.

"At a community level, individuals can do their part by replacing disposable products with durable reusable alternatives, cleaning up public spaces like parks and beaches, creating a recycling culture with neighbours, reusing and repurposing products," says Mesuli Kama, Social Mobilisation Lead at Hold My Hand.

"This is precisely what the Waste Not competition is encouraging people to do, by foregrounding the type of action that is already taking place in communities," Kama adds.

Unlike many previous awareness campaigns, organisers say the competition acknowledges the broader challenges within South Africa's waste management system rather than placing the blame solely on individuals.

"The Waste Not competition is different; it doesn't blame people but encourages individual action and this is what leadership is about," Kama concludes.

Competition Details

• Start Date: 21 July 2026

• Closing Date: 21 August 2026

• Who can enter: Any South African resident. Entries by or featuring minors (under 18) must include parental or guardian consent.

• How to enter: Send a photo or video entry via WhatsApp to 0600 411 111.