About Coceka
Coceka is a community-run recycling initiative in Kayamandi, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Our goal is simple: less waste on the streets, more income for the community.
We collect plastic, clean it, and turn it into raw material that can be used to make new products.
This means less rubbish in landfills and rivers, and more money staying in Kayamandi.
Our name, our story
Coceka is a Xhosa word that means to be clean, tidy, and in good order.
It was suggested by a member of the cooperative who is deeply passionate about keeping Kayamandi clean and creating opportunities through recycling.
Coceka is also a widely used personal name in Southern Africa, symbolising purity, care, and responsibility.
For us, Coceka is more than a name, it reflects our mission to create clean communities, meaningful work, and a culture of recycling.
Sihlaziya kunye – We recycle together
Coceka as a Community Cooperative
Coceka is being established as a community-owned cooperative, owned and run by local members in Kayamandi.
This means the Recycling Pod is not just a project; it is a community enterprise, where local people are shareholders, workers, and decision-makers. Coceka aims to grow into a network of cooperatives across under-resourced communities, supporting producers, PRO’s and brands with scalable EPR and ESG solutions.
The cooperative model ensures:
- Income stays in the community
- Jobs and skills are built locally
- Women and informal waste collectors are included
- Long-term sustainability beyond donor funding
- Verified data for EPR outcomes and ESG impact at scale