Clean City SA is an award-winning, community-based Public Benefit Organisation established in February 2020 to address some of South Africa’s most pressing environmental and social challenges, particularly waste pollution, poor urban cleanliness, unemployment and food insecurity.

The organisation uses a community-driven, partnership-based approach to create cleaner, healthier and more sustainable communities. Its work combines environmental education, community mobilisation, urban cleanliness, waste minimisation, recycling, greening, green skills development, entrepreneurship and food-security initiatives.

Clean City SA believes that sustainable environmental change cannot be achieved by government, business or communities working in isolation. Its approach therefore brings together communities, municipalities, businesses, property owners, schools, civil society organisations, funders and volunteers to develop practical solutions to local environmental challenges.

Since commencing community operations in September 2020 with the launch of its first Adopt A Street volunteer network in Berea, Johannesburg, Clean City SA has expanded its programmes across several communities and has become an implementation partner for partners in major social-employment, green skills development, environmental and community-development initiatives.

Clean City SA exists to:

We seek to create practical pathways through which environmental action can simultaneously

a) Cleaner and healthier communities;
b) Waste reduction and responsible waste management;
c) Recycling and the development of the circular economy;
d) Community participation and ownership;
e) Youth skills development;
f) Employment and livelihood opportunities;
g) Green entrepreneurship;
h) Food security;
i) Greening and urban beautification; and
J) Stronger partnerships between communities, government and the private sector.