Most waste in South Africa ends up in landfill sites. This wastes precious materials that can be reused. Transporting large volumes of materials to landfill sites in distant locations also results in significant energy consumption and carbon emissions. Landfill sites also neutralise valuable land and can create a range of health hazards.

Effective recycling schemes can be used to address this situation and ensure that waste material is recycled and reused, rather than being wasted. Formal recycling schemes are still in their infancy in many areas of South Africa, however, as a result of the value of waste, informal recyclers can be found in many areas. This type of recycling can be dangerous and unhealthy and materials for recycling are transported along main roads on ad-hoc trolleys.

Gauge has developed a range of technologies and kits that aims to improve the sustainability performance of the built environment. Technology is designed to be easily and cost-effectively implemented in buildings and cities and suit a range of contexts. One of the technologies developed by Gauge is a robust multi-purpose trolley that can be used to support recycling.

The trolley has been designed to be low cost and can be hand-pushed or used as a cycle trailer. The trolley has tools which can be used to compact waste to enable large quantities of waste to be transported easily. The trolley is made of readily available materials and can be easily manufactured and maintained. It can be used to in neighbourhood recycling schemes as well as for general transportation of goods, such as fresh produce.