BINSPIRATIONS
Langa, one of Cape Town’s oldest townships, is entering a new chapter, one driven by creativity, community pride, and a fresh approach to sustainability. What began as a simple conversation between local art garrlery entreprenuer Thulani Fesi and BINBIN has grown into an inspiring showcase of circular innovation: the Langa Art Project.
More than a series of painted waste bins, this project blends art, awareness and practical environmental impact. It demonstrates how community-led design can reshape public spaces, support livelihoods, and shift human behaviour toward cleaner, circular living.
A collaboration rooted in community
Langa is known for its strong cultural identity and vibrant artistic community. Yet, like many growing urban areas, it faces challenges around waste management, public health, and infrastructure.
The idea for the BINBIN Art Project emerged during an encounter between entrepreneur and gallery owner Thulani Fesi and BINBIN representatives, where a single waste bin, donated to support local recycling efforts, planted a bigger dream.
Fesi saw the potential immediately: if one bin could make a difference, what could happen if waste bins became meaningful objects, symbols of identity, creativity and collective care?
BINBIN recognised the power of that vision. Through its creative label BINspiration, the company works at the intersection of sustainability and design, exploring new ways to turn waste challenges into inspiring solutions.
Together with local families, young artists and community groups, Fesi and BINBIN launched a project that transforms functional, durable waste bins into vibrant pieces of public art.
Each bin in Langa is individually designed and painted, capturing local stories, cultural symbols and personal messages from the artists. Their purpose is twofold:
1. Beautifying and activating public spaces
The colourful bins bring a renewed sense of identity and ownership to neighbourhoods. They draw attention, invite interaction, and turn formerly overlooked corners into points of local pride.
2. Supporting circular livelihoods
Waste pickers, a vital part of South Africa’s recycling ecosystem, now have easier access to clean recyclables. The bins’ placement and design make recovery faster and more efficient, offering increased earning potential.
This link between design and economic opportunity is central to the project’s sustainability impact.
3. Changing behaviour through visual storytelling
Research shows that people are more likely to dispose of waste correctly when bins are visible, inviting and meaningful.
In Langa, the artistic expression does exactly that: the bins serve as nudges, gently steering everyday habits toward cleaner streets and better waste separation.
“People don’t change behaviour because a sign tells them to,” says BINBIN. “They change when something speaks to them, emotionally, visually and culturally. That’s the essence of BINspiration.”
A milestone moment for Langa and BINBIN
In early 2025, the project was officially launched during a trade mission to South Africa focused on circular economy collaboration between the Netherlands and local partners.
The inauguration, led by Tracey Fared, Managing Director of BINBIN Group South Africa, and Thulani Fesi, took place in the presence of the Mayor of Langa, symbolizing the community’s support and the project’s long-term potential.
Stakeholders from both countries, including the Netherlands Embassy and Consulate, PIB members, and South African local authorities, celebrated the project as a living example of how creativity and sustainability can reinforce each other.
Part of a wider circular movement in South Africa
Alongside the launch, the BINBIN team engaged in sessions with leading organisations shaping South Africa’s green future:
During the Landfill Congress, hosted by the IWMSA, BINBIN met with Deputy Minister Mr. Singh, responsible for Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, discussing opportunities for Dutch–South African collaboration in waste separation, recycling infrastructure and behaviour-change initiatives.
A blueprint for sustainable design with purpose
The BINBIN Art Project showcases what can happen when local creativity, social inclusion and smart design come together:
This is sustainability not as a policy, but as a practice. Not imposed, but co-created. And that is exactly what BINspiration stands for.
What comes next?
The Langa project is just the beginning. BINBIN and its partners plan to:
As BINBIN continues its mission to make sustainability inviting, human and creative, the Langa experience serves as a powerful reminder:
When communities lead and design supports purpose, meaningful change becomes not only possible, but inevitable.
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