Turning Waste into Opportunity: The Urban Surfer Story

Urban Surfer, founded by former waste picker Safisa Gumby, is revolutionizing the recycling sector in South Africa by supporting waste reclaimers with tools, training, and formalized workspaces. Through innovative concepts like reclaimer recycling camps and corporate partnerships, Urban Surfer not only facilitates better working conditions but also integrates reclaimers into a revenue-sharing model. This grassroots approach, in collaboration with private landowners and corporations, addresses the dual issues of informal waste management and homelessness, creating a replicable model for sustainable urban development that aims to spread nationally across South Africa.