What began as a humble effort to clean the environment and earn a few dollars has transformed the life of a man from Murehwa, proving that even the smallest opportunities can grow into life-changing ventures.

For years, 34-year-old, Tawanda Moyo spent his days walking along roadsides, marketplaces and dumping sites in Murehwa collecting discarded plastic bottles, cans and other recyclable materials. Armed with nothing more than a sack and determination, he would gather litter and sell it to recycling companies to make ends meet.

“At first people laughed at me. Some said picking litter was not real work, but I knew every bottle I picked meant money for my family,” Moyo recalls

On a good day, Moyo could collect several kilograms of plastic bottles which he would sort and sell to recycling buyers who paid according to weight. The work was tough and sometimes unpredictable, but it slowly became a reliable source of income.

Over time, Moyo began to notice something else during his daily rounds: large quantities of fruit going to waste in nearby farms and homesteads, especially mangoes, bananas and guavas during the harvest season.

“In Murehwa there is a lot of fruit, but most of it rots because people cannot preserve it,” he says.

The observation sparked an idea. Instead of relying solely on litter collection, he started saving a portion of the money he earned from recycling. After months of persistence and discipline, he managed to raise enough capital to invest in small fruit dryers.

“I started with one small dryer.It was not easy, but the money I had saved from picking litter helped me buy it,” he said

Tendai Nyawiri, Petrecozim Pvt Ltd, General Manager said one can earn a living through picking Pet bottles as they work directly with the vendors without any registration needed.

“We have depots in Harare, Kwekwe, Bulawayo, Masvingo, Chinhoyi, and Karoi. Our business model allows us to collect materials directly from our pickers/vendors using our trucks, which makes it easier for them to participate.

We currently buy PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) plastic only. PET plastic is commonly used for soft drink and water bottles. It can be recognised by the recycling symbol with the number “1” inside the triangle, usually found at the bottom of the bottle. PET bottles are typically clear or coloured (green, brown) and lightweight,” he said

He added that payments are based on the weight (per kilogram) of PET plastic collected and payments are usually made immediately when resources are available, but in rare cases they may be made after a few days.

With the dryer, Moyo began processing surplus fruits from local farmers, turning them into dried mango slices, banana chips and dried guavas which have a longer shelf life and can be sold throughout the year.

The business gradually expanded as demand for dried fruits grew. Farmers who used to watch their fruit rot on the ground began bringing their produce to Moyo for drying and processing.

Today, Moyo owns several fruit dryers and works with a small team that helps with collecting, slicing and packaging the fruits.

What started with picking litter has now become a proper business.

Apart from earning a better income, Moyo says the journey has also changed how people in his community view recycling.

“Now people understand that waste can create opportunities. If you look closely, even what people throw away can help you build something,” he said.

Community leaders say stories like Moyo’s highlight the economic potential of recycling and value addition in rural areas.

By turning waste into income and later investing in fruit processing, the Murehwa entrepreneur has not only transformed his own life but also created a solution for reducing fruit waste in the area.

Speaking inline with the World Recycling Day coming up and World Wildlife day which passed the Tendai Nyawiri emphasized the importance of a clean environment.

“Our recycling programme has had a significant impact on cleaning the environment. Most urban waste is PET plastic, which we collect for recycling. Our collection at its peak is currently at 1,700 tonnes however, our collection target is at 2,000 tonnes per year. If this plastic were left on the ground, it could block drainage systems and causing flooding in cities.

We encourage the public and institutions to practice proper waste disposal and waste separation. When waste is properly sorted, it becomes easier for waste pickers and municipal authorities to collect recyclable materials and divert them to recycling companies, including us at Petrecozim. 

This helps increase recycling rates and keeps more plastic waste out of the environment,” he said

From the dusty roads of Murehwa where he once collected discarded bottles to the buzzing activity around his fruit dryers today, Moyo’s journey stands as a reminder that opportunity can sometimes be found in the most unexpected places.