Can you introduce us to We-Recycle, its objectives, mission, and actions?

We-Recycle is an NGO founded in 2016 that specializes in the collection of beverage cans and recyclable plastics. With two collection trucks, we primarily operate in the Black River district since 2018 and Savanne since 2022. We also have a few private collection points in Plaines Wilhems.

How is this collection structured?

We manage a network of nearly 70 recycling bins publicly available to residents by the District Councils of Rivière Noire and Savanne. We also collect from 9 bins sponsored by PhoenixEarth, which are available to the public in the regions of Albion, Bambous, Cascavelle, Flic en Flac, and Tamarin. As of today, we have collected over 50 tons of PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) plastic, over 10 tons of other types of recyclable plastic, and over 3 tons of beverage cans.

What happens to the items you collect?

• The recyclable plastic we collect is sorted by our team.
• PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) is set aside in large bags and stored in our warehouses, awaiting to be collected by our partner. This latter removes the labels and caps and compact the PET bottles, which are sent to South Africa to be recycled into nylon/polyester for the textile industry. Flexible plastic - transparent bags, packaging, etc. - is collected by a local partner company that transforms it into new bags and packaging.
• The rigid plastics of the HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) and PP (Polypropylene) categories are delivered to a local company that uses them to manufacture outdoor furniture and other objects made from recycled plastic.
• The cans, on the other hand, are transported to a local metallurgy company and are integrated into the process of manufacturing aluminium bars.

The collection depends on the disposal in recycling bins, which is only effective if the target audience is raised awareness alongside. Which part of your work do you dedicate to education and awareness missions?

Education is an integral part of our mission; without it, indeed, our collection efforts would be in vain. We regularly conduct awareness campaigns in certain shopping centers, as well as in the villages of the south and southwest, to explain to the public the different types of plastics they can sort for recycling, the dangers of plastic pollution on our environment, and the importance of recycling, especially for an island like ours.

We also intervene in companies through explanatory workshops lasting 40 to 45 minutes, providing advice on how, as consumers, we can reduce our consumption of plastic items.

Furthermore, our NGO participates in forums organized by public authorities to share our experience and advance the recycling cause.

Generally speaking, how far is Mauritius on the issue of recycling?

Given the increasing volumes of our collections, we see that there is a growing number of people committed in sorting plastic waste for recycling. That said, less than 5% of plastic waste is processed through recycling in Mauritius. There are still significant efforts to be made.

Before addressing the issue of awareness about recycling, the problem of "dumping" is a real concern in Mauritius. Many people won’t dump in their own yards but have no problem dumping in their "neighbors'." 

Indeed. People are looking for convenience today. Everything must be within reach and available quickly. The waste that is "dumped" in nature comes in all kinds: from simple small bottles to large household appliances like refrigerators or washing machines. Regarding bulky waste, it is not collected during the regular rounds of the garbage collectors. It is therefore necessary to make the effort to find a suitable carrier. Few people make this effort. And convenience makes it easier to get rid of it in the "next yard."

What do you think could be a trigger for to raise awareness about this issue of "dumping"?

People have different levels of sensitivity regarding environmental issues. For example, many people question recycling in Mauritius because they do not know where the sorted waste ends up. Others recognize the need to sort, but do not know where to find the recycling bins. Finally, some people (and they are increasingly numerous) are playing along and have not only taken the initiative to sort their waste but also to dispose off recyclable materials in the designated bins.

In short, the desire not to pollute and to contribute to recycling must come from the citizen themselves. We can run as many awareness campaigns as we want, tirelessly explaining the dangers of pollution on our environment and our health, but it will not serve the purpose as long as there is no personal awareness from the individual. That said, a factor that could help resolve the issue is the coercive action of public authorities against those found guilty of "dumping."

This year, We Recycle plans to expand its awareness initiatives at school level. Could you explain how this will unfold in practice?

There is a growing interest among schools in raising students' awareness about recycling. Some teachers are already mentioning it in their classes, so there is already an awareness being raised. We wish to build up on the work of the teachers. Through storytelling and games, we raise students' awareness of the dangers of pollution to our environment and what they can do to start recycling at home. Initially, starting this month, we will be present in the primary schools of Black River and Savanne, as these are our main collection areas. We then plan to intervene in the colleges and in any primary or secondary school across the island that requests our assistance.

Raising awareness from a younger age is important as it leads to a greater potential for a change in behavior as compared to adults.

How can you ensure that you maximize the impact of your message among a young audience?

First of all, our workshops are interactive, in French and in Creole. We play games and riddles throughout to keep the young ones engaged. Our storytelling doesn't just focus on plastic and pollution; we also incorporate elements of the specific fauna and flora of Mauritius that the students are already aware of. We present recyclable materials using everyday objects that the students are already very familiar with.

Do you have any other projects lined up for this upcoming year?

We will continue to raise awareness about the dangers of environmental pollution by organizing cleanup campaigns. We are collaborating on the campaign "World Without Waste – Mo Enn Consom-Akter Responsab" with Coca-Cola, PhoenixEarth Initiative, and other NGOs. Thus, in the coming weeks, we will be traveling through several regions to collect PET bottles directly from the residents. We are also collaborating on the monthly campaign "Odysseo @The Beach" to raise public awareness about the dangers of microplastics to marine life.

How can we contact you and/or support you?

We welcome volunteers throughout the year for our awareness and cleanup campaigns. We can be contacted at the email address info@we-recyclemauritius.org, on social media through our Facebook page (We-Recycle, Mauritius), Instagram (werecyclemauritius), and LinkedIn. (We-Recycle, Mauritius). Our website https://we-recyclemauritius.org/ showcases our various activities and how to get involved in our initiatives.