End-of-life fishing nets are being given a second life at the V&A Waterfront, where a small but impactful recycling initiative is turning ocean waste into reusable materials – while creating jobs.
Located at the Collier Jetty, the Fishing Net Recycling Pod collects discarded nets from fishing companies. The nets are cleaned, cut into smaller pieces, and shredded into flakes that can be used to manufacture new items, including furniture and even clothing.
The project was highlighted by the City of Cape Town as part of Global Recycling Day on Wednesday, March 18, showcasing how recycling initiatives can support local economic growth and sustainable job creation.
The facility is a collaboration between non-profit organisation Ocean and Coastal Empowerment and Action Network (OCEAN Action Network) and Ocean Plastic Technologies (OPT). Together, they aim to keep plastic waste out of landfills and oceans by converting it into high-value materials.
OCEAN managing director Estelle van der Merwe said the organisation is already selling high-density polyethylene (HDPE) flakes, which can be used to make products such as benches and chairs.
“I am extremely satisfied that we are receiving the nets and keeping them out of landfills. We are also giving a small business owner an opportunity to provide employment,” she said.
Ms Van der Merwe said this project started three-years ago.
The pod is operated by Bukiwe Tshetsha-Mndayi, a small business owner from Mfuleni and founder of Mtubana Networks Recyclers. She works with local fisherfolk to prepare the nets for processing.
Ms Tshetsha-Mndayi said her passion for environmental work was shaped during her internship at the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, where she saw the damage caused by marine waste.
She named her company after her mother, Joyce Tshetsha, whose nickname was Mtubane, who taught her to recycle and plant vegetables along river beds in the rural community, where she was raised.
While the project only started at the Waterfront in September Ms Tshetsha-Mndayi said her mother had influenced her to love sustainability, the environment, her choice of study, and the name of her company.
"This project prevents our ocean's mammals and sea life from being entangled in fishing nets. I saw firsthand how a turtle got stuck in fishing gear," she said.
Ms Tshetsha-Mndayi said by minimising waste to the landfills, they were reducing costs and diverting it into recycling.
