Mary is the co-founder, Managing Director and owner of FullCycle. She is a committed environmental activist and educator who consequently became a business woman. Mary loves her work and believes passionately in promoting the concept of sustainability with particular emphasis on waste reduction and recycling. She practices what she preaches and refuses to use a wheelie bin.  Instead she composts all organic waste using either her Can-O-Worms or Bokashi Kitchen Composter. She adopts "plastic wise" shopping in an attempt to reduce the amount used. Where plastic packaging is unavoidable Mary takes it back to the shop for them to dispose of responsibly, whilst making the point that nonbiodegradable packing should be phased out!

Mary, Mary, how does your garden grow? With Vermicompost of course!

Her various projects and activities include:

• WASTE at WORK: which uses art to communicate paper waste reduction in businesses  www.coeo.co.za/waste.

• Development of the Plastic Bag campaign, with support from former Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Mahommed Valli Moosa.

• Development of a diesel emissions campaign called Clear-the-Air.

• She has visited over 40 landfill sites in South Africa and has lead tours to landfills to raise awareness of waste.

• She conceived and presented Environmental Matters on SAfm (104-107) every Monday at 8:30pm from August 2005 to March 2007.

• She develops sustainable tools and systems for environmental monitoring and management like Emon (Environmental Monitoring), which is an SMS based application.

• She lectured a course in EE for the School of Education at the University of Cape Town.

• She helped with the launch of the Eco Schools programme in SA, and developed and supported numerous Eco Schools' nodes.

• She has worked with gang members on the Cape Flats, lead the Findings Writing team at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and facilitated conflict reduction workshops in Northern Ireland.

• Her primary focus is finding ways to embed Human Rights into Sustainable Development.

• She is an ISO 14001 SATCA certified environmental auditor.

Mary has a Masters degree in International Relations and BA (Hons) in Peace Studies. She is currently studying towards her PhD in Environmental Education at Rhodes University. The latter will be written as a novel about Polo the penguin: http://www.poloandfriends.org . Her academic journey is posted on a blog www.mary.fullcycle.co.za

Originally from Ireland, she has lived in South Africa since 1994.

David graduated from Manchester University, England, with an Honours degree in Chemistry and a Masters degree in Molecular Engineering. To fulfill his interest in business, he worked in a leading UK retail company for six years.  He left England in 2002 to be part of South Africa’s growing democracy. He worked for one of South Africa’s premium brands, Woolworths, as a planning manager in the competitive and challenging Kidswear department.  He volunteers at an orphanage in Mfuleni township.

His work at Woolworths and experiences in South Africa deepened his passion for nature and sustainability.  He decided to pursue his growing awareness for sustainability and is currently studying at the Sustainability Institute in Stellenbosch for his B.Phil in Sustainable Development and Planning.  He is especially interested in the carbon market, leadership and ethics, renewable energy finance and considering the broader sustainability impacts of “carbon offsetting” projects.

David is Managing Director of Carbon Countdown, which offer environmental services, training and consulting. He is the sales director at FullCycle.  He loves spreadsheets and moving things around quickly.
 

Helen’s first taste of Africa was at the age of thirteen when a work project brought her father and family from Europe for a five-year contract. After completing her high school education in the Northern Cape, Helen returned to Europe and worked in various sectors of the tourism industry, though the majority of the time was in aviation. With easy access to international travel, it was an opportunity to see how other countries were developing their tourism industries, and with this came a powerful realisation that tourism could be a force for change and make a positive difference to a destination, or it could have a negative impact on host communities and biodiversity if managed irresponsibly. When Helen returned permanently to Cape Town in 2001, this philosophy was the inspiration for starting up her consultancy company ‘Serendipity Africa’, which focuses on raising awareness of sustainable tourism development. Services offered range from responsible tourism training and mentoring, marketing guidance and support, assistance with sustainable tourism development plans in specific geographical regions to encourage businesses to incorporate ethical principles into day-to-day operations. She is a member of the judging panel for ‘Imvelo’ – Southern Africa’s Responsible Tourism Awards, and is a qualified national trainer for Fair Trade Tourism South Africa (FTTSA). Helen is also a freelance travel writer and gets involved with media co-ordination to make sure the ‘good news’ stories get told. Her motto is making tourism work for people and the planet.

Mzu is a gardener for FullCycle at the Noordhoek Farm Village worm farm. He originally lived in a small village in the Eastern Cape with his grandmother who looked after the family while his mother worked in Cape Town.  After his grandmother died he could no longer continue his education and so came to Cape Town to look for work to support himself. He found work as a nursery assistant and enjoyed growing plants and other outdoor landscaping activities.  The opportunity arose to undertake a short gardening course which sparked his interest in the field. He would often go by FullCycles worm farm at  Noordhoek Farm Village and see the activities going on, which prompted him to approach FullCycle. We were impressed by his personable manner and his ability. He is proving to be a valuable member of staff and will soon be running our gardening workshops for the public.  If you are interested in attending this short practical workshop please call or e-mail our office.

Our green fingered guy ... well not literally.

Mzu likes the idea of growing things organically and enjoys working with nature. Currently we have a garden area adjacent to our worm farm on which tenants within the Farm Village have been given small door frame style allotments. The tenants send their staff to be trained by Mzu in the art of organic vegetable gardening.  The skills learned can be taken home to the wider community. Before working with FullCycle Mzu knew little about earthworms but is now fascinated by them and plans to have a Worm Factory at home. He lives in Masiphumele with his partner and small son.

Although Christiaan is an IT audit manager by profession, and currently completing his PhD in Auditing, he is also very conscious of reducing his 'carbon footprint'.  He recycles all paper and cans at home, and he  feeds all kitchen scraps into his three "treasured Can-O-Worms".  He's even got his mother hooked on worm farming and gave her a Can-O-Worms, which she heartily adopted.

 Christiaan uses the worm castings to grow succulents.  He has lots of 'future' plans for the
 castings that he probably conjures up while out hiking and cycling.  Christiaan can always find his way back home to his wife, five-year-old son and growing family of earthworms because he never leaves home without his Garmin GPS.

So if you ever need him to come and audit your worm farm just send him your coordinates and he'll be there.  He can assist with sales and advice in the Centurion and Pretoria areas.

Christiaan can be contacted on Cell: 083 3061543 or e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Jennifer Law is a qualified Chartered Accountant SA (1996), is an experienced entrepreneur with 16 years of post-articles experience in strategic and financial management in the private and public sectors. Including Babcock International (Group Accountant).

An entrepreneur by nature, Jennifer has established and operated an accounting practice, a restaurant, and is currently a co-founder and director of the Sibaya group of companies. She is also a Board member of a JSE listed company, and operates a private guest house in Bedfordview.

Jennifer is concerned about sustainability and shares an interest in environmental management and renewable energy, currently involved in projects and investments in these sectors.

She has been profiled in the 2006/2007 Top Women in Business and Government, and was invited to be profiled in the 2007/2008 Most Influential Women publication.

She is a keen cyclist, both road and mountain bike, and spends much time outdoors with her husband, Gerald Lau, and their two sons.

Chartered Accountant (SA);
Honours Bachelor of Accounting Science;
Graduate of Institute of Chartered Secretaries (Corporate Governance);
Masters Public Finance and Auditing (IPFA).

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it | Tel 082 490 2999| Fax 0866 715 376

Marlize was born in Mpumalanga when it was still the Eastern Transvaal. Now happily living in the Lowveld region after living in Cape Town for many years. Passionate about recycling and growing things especially indigenous things that attract birds. However this has been made difficult by clay conditions. So encountering FullCycle and the worms have been a perfect solution. Apart from encouraging the use of Can-O-Worms and Bokashi, lodges and guest farms will be enticed to make better use of their organic waste on a larger scale.  Contact  Marlize on 0836758833 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or visit her at Casterbridge Shopping Centre.

Petra received her first Can-O-Worms in May 2008 and has been hooked on worm farming ever since.  She is now passionate about waste management and believes that each individual
must reduce their own waste.  Petra loves nature and enjoys encouraging friends and family
to appreciate their environment.  Petra's aim is to make a difference in a meaningful and sustainable way. Petra lives in Randburg, Gauteng and you can contact her on: 082 694 0235