The concept of micro sites emerged from a first-hand understanding of the challenges faced by informal waste collectors—commonly referred to as & Champions & in undeserved communities.

Founder, David Cupido’s time in Namibia deeply shaped this vision, offering insight into the daily struggles and resilience of individuals who rely on waste collection as their sole source of income.

Our micro sites are small-scale, community-based buyback centres operated by trained local individuals. Each site serves as a recycling hub and an economic empowerment unit, offering training, equipment, and seed capital to enable operations.

These sites foster environmental awareness, generate income, and contribute to cleaner, more dignified communities.

In a recent pilot project, an initial investment of R20, 000 was used to establish a single micro site. In just four months, this site generated R100, 000 in revenue—validating both the economic viability and social impact of the model.

Following this success, the initiative has expanded to several cities across South Africa.

At EcoXpand, relationships are more valuable to us than profits. We believe in empowering these Champions with relevant industry knowledge, enabling them to thrive.

Our focus is on building lasting relationships and providing support that goes beyond financial gain.

With proven success on a micro level, we are now seeking funding and strategic partnerships to scale this model nationwide. Our objective is to launch and support 100+ micro sites over the next 24 months, targeting under-resourced urban and peri-urban areas.

Each site will be operated by trained youth and community leaders, ensuring long-term sustainability and community ownership.

To expand and sustain this initiative, we are seeking financial and in-kind support in the following areas:

• Equipment (platform scales, balers, cages, safety gear)
• Training materials and facilitation
• Transport vehicles and trailers
• Seed capital for new site entrepreneurs
• Monitoring, evaluation, and impact reporting tools

This is more than a recycling program. It’s a catalyst for job creation, dignity restoration, and environmental stewardship. By investing in this initiative, funders will help create hundreds of sustainable livelihoods while tackling waste pollution at the grassroots level.