The Retrade Project Building Process 2018-2019

The Retrade Project began to grow in scope and impact over the past year, the need arose for increased space and capacity of our recycling storage area as well as our trading store. With much white noise surrounding building “green”, The Retrade Project Team partnered with community architect and project manager, Kevin Kimwelle from Indalo World to assist us with the design of a recycling depot and an improved waste management process while using recyclable materials and sustainable building practices.

We had outgrown our current recycling holding area and are in need of an l easier access recycling depo. We have begun this process by renovating the recycling drop off depo. We have reopened our services to the City of Port Elizabeth to also participate and drop off their sorted recycling at our new depo located at 22 Newcomb Avenue, Walmer Heights just behind Builders Warehouse.

We commenced our building project in 2018 with a dream and a vision to create a community centre with a recycling and green initiative to encourage community participation and also giving back to those in need. The building is green and is aimed at using 80% recycled material. This statement in the City, we hope will attract investment and attention to the need for environmental spaces in Nelson Mandela Bay.

We plan to be off the municipal grid in energy as far as possible, harvest rainwater and use a grey water system. Although there are costs to be incurred initially, we see these as investments into a sustainable building and business operations in the future. In addition, the building will use a parrive design to minimise the use of electricity for cooling or heating. We hope to use participation from the local community and invite local businesses to support this build and project as we move forward. This we hope to showcase to the city the green heart and caring nature of The Retrade Project towards those in need in Nelson Mandela Bay.

Kevin Kimwelle, says, “This project has the potential play a role in the city's’ green agenda for years to come.”

Maria Grewar, Director of The Retrade Project echoes these thoughts by saying that “we believe in community participation and giving those in need a hand-up instead of a handout. Retrade is an opportunity for all to be a part of the sustainable living in 2019.

The building project would be able to increase the number of beneficiaries and the amount of waste recycled each week.

See below building plans and progression photos from our 2018 building Project (Phase 1):

Progress and Development of Building Project

Phase 1: Renovation of Recycling Collection Centre

We are very excited to continue our development plan in 2019 and we invite you as your supporters, friends and local community to partner and engage with us. The City of PE is going Green and we feel privileged to be a part of the journey!

The Retrade Building Project is in collaboration with:

• Indalo World           
• Ezethu Development Trust          
• MAID Foundation
• Fountain Vineyard  Christian Fellowship          
• WERK

Supported by:

• The EcoBrick Exchange               
• Community Action Programmes e.V
• Penguin Learn & Play Centre