There is probably a bag of empty bottles or jars somewhere near you right now.

Most of us see rubbish. The recycling industry sees something that still has value.

The Glass Recycling Company is encouraging more women to consider glass recycling as a potential source of income and a path to entrepreneurship. Women are already involved across the industry, from collecting bottles to running buy-back centres and recycling businesses.

And this is not just an idea on paper. TGRC says thousands of South Africans already earn income by collecting waste glass and selling it to buy-back centres.

What this means for you

• Glass bottles and jars can be collected and sold to participating buy-back centres.
• Collectors are generally paid according to the amount of glass they collect.
• Glass can be collected from places such as homes, restaurants, bars and shebeens.
• There are also opportunities to move beyond collecting and explore a recycling business or buy-back centre.

It can start small

You do not necessarily have to think of recycling as a big business from day one.

For someone looking for an additional income stream, the starting point could simply be finding a reliable source of glass and a nearby buyer.

If the volumes grow, there are larger opportunities within the recycling chain.

TGRC says it supports entrepreneurs interested in establishing buy-back centres with guidance and, in certain circumstances, equipment such as collection bags, scales, safety gear and skip bins. Entrepreneurs must still meet the relevant requirements, including municipal regulations.

If you're interested, start here

• Collect clean glass bottles and jars separately from ordinary rubbish.
• Find out where your nearest glass buy-back centre is.
• Ask what types of glass they accept and how payment works.
• Keep track of how much you collect.
• If you see an opportunity to collect larger volumes, investigate the business side before spending money on equipment or transport.
• Consider restaurants, events and other local businesses as potential sources of recyclable glass.

TGRC says it does not buy or sell glass itself, but can direct collectors to potential buyers in their area.

A bigger opportunity than bottles

The interesting part is what happens when recycling moves from a side hustle into a business.

Buy-back centres are an important link between collectors and the glass industry. TGRC has specifically encouraged entrepreneurs to establish more centres and says it provides support to qualifying operators.

That means there is potential at several levels: collecting, transporting, operating a buy-back centre and supporting the wider recycling chain.

Good to know

The Glass Recycling Company currently says there are more than 4,000 glass banks across South Africa. Its website also allows people to locate a glass bank and request information about nearby buy-back centres.

This is not a promise of easy money. Collection involves time, transport, storage and physical work, and payment depends on the glass collected and the buyer.

But it is a good reminder that something we normally throw away can still have value.

The Bottom Line

Before you throw that bottle away, remember that it may not be rubbish at all.

For some people, a bag of glass is the beginning of a small income stream. For others, it could become the starting point for a bigger recycling business.

Sometimes an opportunity really is sitting in the things we overlook every day.