Salt Rock’s woman of substance and tenacity

The words “true grit” come to mind when following the eight-year journey of Salt Rock’s Patricia Schröder in establishing her business Reclite (Pty) Ltd – Recycling through innovation – a first in South Africa and Africa.
It is not surprising that Patricia’s invention of a unique project to recycle waste electric lights and save landfills from poisonous mercury and other toxins, landed her first prize in the 2016 Ilembe Chamber Entrepreneur competition.
In a nutshell, Reclite recovers and recycles all waste lighting lamps, such as fluorescent lamps CFLs, HIDs, LED lamps and other associated products, at its recovery facility at Umhlali, as well as having played a role in educating government and industry on the need for such recycling.
Her journey started in 2008 when Patricia, who has a degree in Environmental Management, a Masters in project management and an MBA qualification, was working at a waste company and was horrified to see the increasing amount of electronic waste and lighting filling landfills.
“There must be alternatives and there is recoverable material here,” she thought and started her research.
“Other countries already had a solution and the technology to treat hazardous waste and were safely removing the toxic components from lighting and recovering the material to be re-purposed. And the Swedish technology was the best.”
And in that moment, the goal presented itself to Patricia, to set up a profitable business, creating jobs and protecting the environment.

Application for environmental licence
However, South Africa had neither the law nor the know-how and Patricia knew she had to first inform and educate the Environmental Affairs Department on the impact this increasing hazardous waste was having on the environment.
“After creating awareness with the department, one of their officials accompanied us to Italy to see a recycling plant in operation. The official was impressed and asked to see the Italian environmental legislation to review for application in a South African context.
“New legislation was tabled in parliament in 2013, and has this year, after a three-year grace period for industry to prepare, kicked in.”
Meanwhile Patricia had to write a technical report suitable for the South African and African context which the department approved. Then began the long process of applying for and environmental licence to operate a recycling plant treating hazardous waste – a 24 to 36 month process.
“But you have to have the licence before you can apply for funding from a development bank, which is at minimum another 12-month process,” said Patricia.
Finally, we moved to Ballito in 2013 and in October 2013 received our licence and after set-up and commissioning, opened the business after receiving the first large waste lighting consignment in September 2014.
Due to the new legislation restricting all waste lighting from landfills in August 2016, businesses have no option but to divert from landfill and comply.

Good environmental legacy
But there was another catch.
“We offered the recycling solution but most companies needed our products and services at their operations throughout South Africa so
we had to develop a nationwide service offering, with branches in Gauteng, the Western Cape, the Eastern Cape and the Northern Province.
“A huge risk and strain on a new business that was breaking ground anyway, but we had no choice.
“We now also accept waste lighting from surrounding countries such as Swaziland, Lesotho, Botswana and Namibia.”
Reclite is an Enviropaedia Eco-Logic Awards 2016 winner.
Patricia describes the last few years as being quite taxing on both her and her family. Fortunately her supportive husband, Steffen Schröder, joined the business in 2010 and her two sons in 2014.
When asked how she relaxes during her downtime she said quite matter of factly that there was minimal down time and with a start-up business there is no time to relax in the beginning.
But when they can, she and her husband enjoy travelling and family time.
Initially she kept her consultancy work going at night, but when the business opened she had to dedicate her full time to the business.
“There was naturally financial pressure, and we had some rough times, but with hard work, dedication and commitment, we pulled through.
“There were also times I wanted to throw in the towel but didn’t because I wanted to not just build a good sustainable business, but foster a good environmental legacy.”
And that, Patricia has surely done and proved what true grit really is.

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