The tin collector

Empowered by old batteries and crushed cans

The business of selling tins for recycling is gaining traction in Botswana, with more and more people seen scavenging for discarded cans, especially at bars and shopping malls.

For 34-year-old, Tumiso Keebine it is a market he has taken full advantage of through his business, TUMi’s Recycle.

Established in 2018, the Thamaga-based enterprise specialises in buying tin cans from members of the public and then reselling them to Collect Can, who have an exporting licence to sell abroad to recycling facilities.

Old car batteries also make up a big part of Keebine’s business. He offers P4 a kilogram for these, whereas cans come with a P7 per kg valuation.

Keebine’s willingness to come to the customer puts him at an advantage over his competitors, and he regularly receives call outs from homesteads in villages around Gaborone.

“I realised that people always have cans, batteries and any other waste in their homes. Normally they lack money or transport to take them to recycling places, which are mostly in Gaborone. That’s when I stepped in to buy all these from them. I allow them to cut out transports costs therefore they can make a little profit on their sales. Most people have welcomed this since more often they call me in various places to come and collect; we weigh and pay on the spot,” says the impressive entrepreneur, whose clientele ranges from residents in: Gakgatla, Mmathethe, Mabutsane, Moshupa and Molepolole.

Like so many of the country’s youth, Keebine was pushed into starting the venture by unemployment.

“I knew I would be creating employment for myself and of course earning a living. For now, I don’t have permanent employees but when there is a lot of work, I normally engage casual laborers to assist me,” he tells Voice Money.

“Further it’s a way of keeping waste out of the environment and at the same time it does improve people’s lives since most people are earning a living from selling tins to me,” continues the Thamaga native.

Although TUMi’s Recycle is doing well, as with all businesses it is not without its challenges.

“Sometimes clients call me to come to them and when I get there they just weigh to compare price and then change their decision of selling. So in that situation, I incur petrol costs but gain nothing,” reveals the rueful recycler.

With batteries potentially a hot potato, to avoid trouble Keebine requests an original copy of omang from his clients, while recording the quantity and model of battery he has bought.

“This is to be on the safe side because some people can just steal batteries and sell to me. This format of taking down details is a way of accumulating evidence of who we bought from as well as goods we bought in case things go south,” he explains.

Going forward, Keebine dreams of growing his business to accommodate other waste products and is in the process of adding plastic bottles and liquor bottles to his empire.

“I want to see this business growing to a level where it will impact lives of Batswana greatly. A situation where no one will leave a tin behind in the streets since it will be much valuable. For now people are slowly realising that this venture has potential,” he ends optimistically.