1. Quiz
  2. Your result
  3. Your plan
  4. Your guide

Step-by-step guide

Collecting and selling recycling to buy-back centres: your step-by-step start

Collect cans, plastic bottles, cardboard and paper from homes, businesses and events, sort them, and sell them by the kilogram to a buy-back centre.

  • 18 lessons
  • 5 modules
  • about 1 hour in total

Is this guide for you?

Good fit if

  • Hard-working people who do not mind physical work, can get to a buy-back centre and can store sorted material.

Think twice if

  • You need guaranteed income straight away.

Honest expectations

  • First income usually takes about 7 days.
  • This is usually pocket money: helpful, but rarely enough to live on by itself.
  • The main risk to plan for: low rand per kilogram: transport can eat the profit.

What is inside

  1. Module 1

    Is this right for you?

    What it involves, who pays, and honest expectations.

    1. How collecting and selling recycling to buy-back centres worksFree · 5 min
    2. Honest expectations4 min (in the full guide)
  2. Module 2

    Set up and price

    What you need and what to charge.

    1. Your startup kit, costs and skills5 min (in the full guide)
    2. Pricing and getting paid5 min (in the full guide)
    3. Your numbers: a worked example in rands5 min (in the full guide)
  3. Module 3

    Your first week

    The first steps, in order.

    1. Your first week, step by step6 min (in the full guide)
    2. Week one, step 2: Get gloves, strong bags and a trolley3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Week one, step 3: Ask three shops or taverns near you if you may collect their recycling3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Finding your first customers: who to message5 min (in the full guide)
    5. Messages to copy: your first customers5 min (in the full guide)
  4. Module 4

    Your first month

    A routine that brings in customers.

    1. Your first 30 days: build a routine4 min (in the full guide)
    2. Month one, task 1: Weigh in every week and record kilograms and rand by material3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Month one, task 2: Sort carefully: clean, sorted material pays more3 min (in the full guide)
  5. Module 5

    Months two and three

    Repeat what works, grow and stay safe.

    1. Days 31 to 90: repeat what works and grow4 min (in the full guide)
    2. Months two and three, task 1: Focus on the materials that pay best per trip3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Months two and three, task 2: Add complexes or offices on a regular route3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Getting paid safely and spotting scams4 min (in the full guide)
    5. Risks, rules, tax and staying safe5 min (in the full guide)

What it costs to start

R0 to R1 500 to get started, from our research

What you will use:

  • Gloves
  • Strong bags
  • Trolley
  • Record book

Prices change and differ by area, so check two places near you before you buy.

Try it before you buy

Lesson one is free. If it helps, the whole guide is R149 once-off.

Start the free lesson

Reviewed 24 October 2026 by the Earn Path team. Next review due 24 October 2027.