SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Occupational Certificate: Self-employed re-cycling materials collector 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
103284  Occupational Certificate: Self-employed re-cycling materials collector 
ORIGINATOR
Development Quality Partner - PAMSA (HUMAN) 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-   OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Occupational Certificate  Field 07 - Human and Social Studies  Environmental Relations 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  26  Not Applicable  NQF Level 01  Regular-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  EXCO 0425/24  2018-09-12  2025-12-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-12-30   2029-12-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to provide the learner with the necessary education and skills in respect of Paper Recycling as well as Introductory Business Training for potential entrepreneurs so that they can venture into the business environment as an Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs). The focus is on education and training as a means of establishing SMMEs and promoting a culture of recycling; to promote job creation by providing attendees with the necessary skills and training to start their own small business; to create efficiency in the collection, recycling and disposal of waste paper; to ensure best practice in recycling through educational work and technical support and to ensure that good quality paper is recovered.

This training is linked to special projects as it will enhance skills development and support implementation of the sector skills plan. It will address issues such as poverty alleviation (this includes assisting municipalities to fight poverty) and job creation.

The shared purpose of this qualification is to assess and recognise workplace skills acquired without the benefit of formal education and training for those who have been operating as a collector for a long time and for new entrants to effectively participate in the business of paper and packaging collector.

Rationale:
Recycling generally is viewed within government as an opportunity for job creation. The paper sector recognised that to accelerate job creation, small businesses, run by entrepreneurs had to be created so that those businesses could create jobs. The Paper Recycling Association of South Africa (PRASA) Entrepreneurship Course was initiated to encourage collectors of recycling materials to improve their status from that of collector to Entrepreneur running his or her own micro or small business.

Learners who are assessed as competent against this qualification will be competent to act as business owners (small business), manage and organise resources, plan and market their businesses, sort, collect and distribute recyclable material on Recycling projects focused on Materials collections of paper, plastic, metal cans, plastic bottles and glass in the packaging industry. Learners will be able to manage small recycling businesses i.e. understand, direct and coordinate pre-project planning; understand general contract documentation; implement administrative systems and be able to co-ordinate, direct and guide activities in their SMME subcontracts in a safe and cost-effective manner.

This qualification represents a specific context of management, i.e. materials recycler (paper and packaging collector, in this case the larger part of the life cycle of recycling and packaging industry.

The qualification contributes to the development of a professional community of Materials Recyclers (Paper and Packaging Collector) in the Paper and Packaging Industry. The contribution to The National Skills Development Strategy is the key developmental interface between learners and new competencies to be achieved.

Its contribution to socio-economic transformation is that learners would be able to undergo Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)-assessment and thereby receive recognition for previous learning and experience. The employability and career prospects of learners can therefore be enhanced by this qualification. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
RPL for access to the External Integrated Summative Assessment:
Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of result or certifying a work experience record.

RPL for Access to the Qualification:
Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements.

Entry Requirements:
This is an open access qualification; there are no educational entry requirements. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
Y 

QUALIFICATION RULES 
This qualification is made up of the following compulsory Knowledge Practical Skills and Work Experience Modules:

Knowledge Modules:
  • 524901-000-00-00-KM-01, Recycling as a business, Level 1, 3 Credits.
  • 524901-000-00-00-KM-02, Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations, Level 1, 4 Credits.
    Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 7.

    Practical Skill Modules:
  • 524901-000-00-00-PM-01, Develop a basic business plan for a micro recycling business, Level 1, 3 Credits.
  • 524901-000-00-00-PM-02, Obtain agreement to access recyclable materials, Level 1, 3 Credits.
  • 524901-000-00-00-PM-03, Maintain basic business records for a micro recycling business, Level 1, 2 Credits.
    Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 8.

    Work Experience Modules:
  • 524901-000-00-00-WM-01, Exposure to the business processes within the micro recycling environment, Leve1, 11 Credits.
    Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 11. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Earn a living from collecting and selling recyclable materials. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Recyclable materials are identified accurately and the risks associated in collecting and handling materials are described.
  • The processes for sorting the materials are described and the potential value adding of correctly packing the materials is explained.
  • Basic financial record keeping is correctly applied.
  • The need for and fundamental principles of marketing within the context of generating consistent, revenue is explained.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Integrated Formative Assessment:
    The Skills Development Provider will use the curriculum to guide them on the stipulated internal assessment criteria and weighting. They will also apply the scope of practical skills and applied knowledge as stipulated by the internal assessment criteria. This formative assessment leads to entrance into the integrated external summative assessment.

    Integrated Summative Assessment:
    An External Integrated Summative Assessment, conducted through the relevant Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) Assessment Quality Partner is required for the issuing of this qualification. The external integrated summative assessment will focus on the Exit Level Outcomes and Associated Assessment Criteria. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This International Comparability study was undertaken to examine the Materials Recycler (Paper and Packaging Collector) qualification, in terms of the level of qualification, duration and contents of the related curriculum offered in other countries and whether a similar qualification is offered. If offered, at what level, similarities and differences thereof.

    The purpose is to facilitate the development of a meaningful learning path and its associated curriculum incorporating both theoretical and practical skills, which will ensure compatibility, comparability and compliance with international qualification specification and regulation.

    A preliminary literature review considered as many countries as possible. It was found that no country offers a qualification like the one envisaged here. Australia has a similar name and code, but there are no tasks listed and it is not offered as a qualification nor there are prescribed international standards.

    Countries included in the final comparability review were Australia and New Zealand. In Africa, and United Kingdom (UK) the materials recycler or collector is integrated into waste management. Although no codes or formal training were offered, both countries could not differentiate waste management from recycling, and there were no codes allocated for this stream either.

    Many industry sectors in Australia and New Zealand are defined in terms of an Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) that is relevant to the industry. There is no ANZSIC code for the recycling sector. There are ANZSIC codes for the waste sector that are likely to capture some recycling sector participants, however these codes cannot be used as a mechanism to define the recycling sector as they are neither exclusive to or exhaustive of the recycling sector. Recycling in these countries is often associated with recycling companies and not individuals. In Australian study, the following was found:
    The Materials Recycler with a code 6219-11 and the following description:
    Salvages materials from industrial, commercial and private establishments for resale. (Description similar to ours) there was no level and tasks defined, their Specialisations included:
  • Automotive dismantler.
  • Bottle Dealer.
  • Waste Recycler.
  • No data was given for minimum requirements.

    There were no tasks listed and no proof of level or qualification that was offered. This was not specific to materials collector, but as part of waste management and recycling.

    Conclusion:
    It is evident from this study that South Africa is leading in the formalisation of recycling and training of individual collectors in the Paper and Packaging Industry and small businesses that are entering this stream, who will then contribute to growth and development of the economy of South Africa.

    Many countries including those mentioned above do not separate recycling of paper and packaging from waste management and that recycling as part of waste management is mostly operated by big companies situated in urban cities. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal Articulation:
    This qualification articulates horizontally with the following qualification:
  • General Education and Training Certificate: Level 1.

    Vertical Articulation:
    This qualification articulates vertically with the following qualification:
  • Collaborative Recycler, NQF Level 2. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    Qualifying for External Assessment:
    To qualify for an external assessment, learners must provide proof of completion of all required modules by means of statements of results and work experience records including the Foundational Learning Competence.

    Additional Legal or Physical Entry Requirements:
    None.

    Criteria for the Accreditation of Providers:
    Accreditation of providers will be done against the criteria as reflected in the relevant curriculum on the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) website.
    The curriculum title and code is: Self-employed re-cycling materials collector: 524901-000-00-01.

    Encompassed Trades:

    This qualification encompasses the following trades as recorded on the National Learners' Records Database (NLRD):
  • This is not a trade qualification.

    Assessment Quality Partner (AQP):
    Fibre Processing and Manufacturing Sector Education and Training Authority (FP&M SETA).

    Parent Qualification:
    Curriculum Code Title, NQF Level and Credits.
  • 524901-000-00-00, Paper and Packaging Collector, Level 3, 143 Credits.

    Derived Qualifications Related to the Occupational Certificate: Paper And Packaging Collector.
    Curriculum Code Title, NQF Level and Credits.
  • 524901-000-00-02, Collaborative Recycler, Level 2, 46 Credits.
  • 524901-000-00-03, Small re-cycling business owner, Level 3, 78 Credits. 
    		•

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.