The Waste to Wonder Campaign, led by Uthando South Africa in partnership with the Natural Building Collective, is transforming one of South Africa’s biggest environmental challenges into a powerful force for social change.
By safely encapsulating discarded tyres, plastic bottles, and other waste materials into permanent structures, the campaign creates durable, fire-resistant, and well-insulated buildings for communities in need—while removing harmful waste from the environment for good.
To date, the initiative has delivered two preschools in Delft and Heideveld, three 5-a-side Soccer Pitches for Peace, and diverted 5,000 tyres and 18,000 plastic bottles from landfills and illegal dumping sites.
Officially launched on 5 December with the support of Big Ambitions and GILTEDGE, the campaign was endorsed by iconic South African musician Vicky Sampson and award-winning rapping activist Micheal Palmer, whose performances brought messages of hope, unity, and environmental responsibility to the forefront.
Recognised for its innovation and impact, Waste to Wonder has been nominated and shortlisted from over 5,000 organisations worldwide for the 2026 Earthshot Prize, which celebrates bold solutions for repairing and protecting the planet.
Waste to Wonder proves that when waste is reimagined as a resource, communities thrive—and the future becomes brighter for people and planet alike.
For more info: visit https://www.uthandosa.org/waste-to-wonder-campaign/
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