Petco, a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO), has partnered with GrandMaster Ready D, a South African DJ, who has spent 40 years inspiring the youth through music and education. They have also teamed up with GCAP, the youth development organisation founded by GrandMaster Ready D.
Together, they bring music, performance and education into schools to connect with learners in a way that feels authentic. Through this collaboration, Petco is launching a fun and educational recycling competition. The initiative aims to raise awareness about the value of PET plastic bottles and jars, and Liquid Board Packaging (otherwise known as used beverage cartons). It also highlights the importance of separation at source and how to recycle.
The campaign officially kicked off on 25 August 2025 at Duneside Primary School in Mitchells Plain, where GrandMaster Ready D and his high-energy dance crew engaged learners through music, dance, and interactive performances. Over the next three months, selected schools across Mitchells Plain will compete in Petco’s recycling competition. The school that collects the most PET plastic and Liquid Board Packaging will win a grand prize to improve its facilities. The winner will be announced in November.
To assist schools in their recycling efforts, each participating school receives a live performance by GrandMaster Ready D and G-CAP that explains how to identify recyclable packaging and how to separate and recycle. Petco has also supplied infrastructure to all participating schools: colour-coded bins with signage and bulk bags for storing the collected packaging. In addition, a partnership has been established with a collection company to manage the collection of recyclable packaging.
To close the loop, Petco is providing all participating schools with educational posters developed in partnership with the Pick n Pay Schools Club. For the past five years, Petco, in partnership with the Pick n Pay schools club has created CAPS-aligned content for Grades 1 to 12, that teaches learners about living sustainably and about collecting and recycling the packaging they use.
Wavecrest Primary, one of the participating schools, is already part of the Club. Learners there have already engaged with the educational content, and now they have the physical resources to put it into practice. The initiative also addresses common barriers to recycling, such as language and access to information.
Music and dance are used to simplify complex recycling concepts and encourage learners to start separating recyclable packaging from waste at home and at school. The project aims to empower learners to become recycling champions, and to take what they learn in the classroom back to their families, helping to shift behaviour at home.
“As artists and mentors, we have the responsibility to use our influence positively. We’re showing young people that recycling doesn’t have to be boring; it’s about taking pride in your community, protecting the planet and using creativity as a force for change,” says GrandMaster Ready D.
This initiative aligns with Petco’s broader mission to enable a circular economy in South Africa, where its members’ PET plastic and Liquid Board Packaging are collected and recycled into new products and packaging, creating income opportunities across the collection and recycling industry.
“Without our dedicated brand owner members and recycling partners, projects like this aren’t possible. Our mission is to divert recyclable packaging from landfill and the environment and to keep it in the circular economy, because it is valuable and creates income opportunities for many South Africans. We want the youth to understand what the circular economy is, how they can contribute to it today, and lead it in the future,” say Telly Chauke, Petco CEO.
Through this programme, thousands of learners will gain firsthand experience of recycling, demonstrating that small actions can make a big difference. For more information on Petco, visit: https://petco.co.za/
Social media links:
Petco
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Petco.Official/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petco.official
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/petco-official/?viewAsMember=true
G-CAP:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gcap.za/
Grandmaster Ready D
Ready D Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djreadyd/
Ready D Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/readyd1
Ready D Website: https://www.grandmastermedia.com/
