Young Eco-Warrior Recycles His Way To Better Future

Passionate about recycling, a primary school learner aims to have all schools in the country recycling learners' waste by the time he turns 18.

Kellan Wild (10), a learner at KZN's Warner Beach Preparatory School, became interested in protecting the environment at a young age when he started picking up litter with his mom.

"I realised there was a lot of rubbish in the world, and I felt that by cleaning it up, I could make a difference," he says.

Kellan's passion for recycling has led to him picking up trash at numerous events, including the 2023 and 2024 Splashy Fen music festival, South Africa's longest- running music festival.

The festival is held annually, over five days, on a farm about 18km from Underberg in the southern Drakensberg.

During this year's festival, Kellan collected waste for recycling as part of Team Up to Clean Up's ambassador programme. More than 30 waste pickers, who picked up and sorted the waste, were part of the team. Most of the waste was able to be recycled.

"We recycled 70% of the rubbish collected and taught other children how to make Easter baskets with recycled waste. We also cleaned up at the stages
where the bands were performing," says
Kellan.

"Two years ago, there was no recycling happening [at the festival], so I am very happy there is now," he adds.

Kellan says Team Up to Clean Up is an NPO created to assist waste pickers with a better working environment. Its mission is to clean up Pietermaritzburg.

He explains that he became a Team Up to Clean Up ambassador after working alongside his aunt at one of the NPO's initiatives. When she noticed how passionate he was, she asked him to become a brand champion.

After the hands-on clean-up work he did at the 2023 music festival, Land Rover South Africa selected him as a Defender of Tomorrow mascot for the Springboks rugby team at the Rugby World Cup in France.

Word of his selection spread like wildfire after rugby legend Bryan Habana dropped in at Kellan's school to share the news.

"They chose me because I do a lot of sports and my passion is recycling," says Kellan.

"The experience was amazing! It was great and inspiring! I loved it! I love rugby too!"

As a Team Up to Clean Up ambassador, Kellan recently donated money to the NPO to create the Eco- Warriors Club, a school recycling programme.

The programme aims to promote recycling by giving KZN schools incentives to collect waste for recycling.

"We have installed recycling areas in three schools since January. Team Up to Clean Up finds buyers for the schools' recycling. The club funds itself, which enables us to continue to build recycling areas in other schools," Kellan explains.

His ultimate goal is to have all schools recycling and making money from their waste in South Africa before he turns 18.

To other youth, Kellan says that recycling is important because it protects the planet for the future. "... and we are the future! So recycle and please don't litter! When you can, pick up litter around you. I know it's not yours, but the planet is yours, and we should look after it!"

As for the future, he says he's looking forward to more school installations, motorbike races and generating more awareness around recycling.

Kellan's family, including his eight-year- old brother Nate, are all passionate about recycling and take part in environmental activities together.