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The African Reclaimers Organisation (ARO) is concerned that plans by Pikitup Johannesburg (SOC) Ltd in Johannesburg to expand its [email protected] recycling programme may leave informal waste pickers without an income.
In 2019, ARO started a pilot project with residents in Brixton, Auckland Park and Bordeaux South called “recycling with reclaimers”. The aim was to encourage residents to give their recyclable materials to reclaimers.
Luyanda Hlatshwayo, a reclaimer with ARO, said the pilot project has been beneficial for both residents and reclaimers. They are provided with income security and improved working conditions, while residents have people collecting their recyclable materials.
When the project started, Eli Kodisang, an organiser at ARO, told
24 Nov 2020
By Tebogo Maleka and Petronella DeWet
South Africa has more than 60,000 waste pickers who play a substantial role in the waste management industry of the country, collecting 80 to 90% of used recyclables collected on an annual basis. As one of the most vulnerable communities in the country, they were profoundly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown. Under the stringent level 5 lockdown regulations, their daily earnings were impacted by the restrictions on movement. Since the lifting of these restrictions, they have been exposed to the increasing risks from handling waste that could be contaminated by the coronavirus.
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has responded to the situation by working with stakeholders to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to members of the South African Waste Pickers Association (SAWPA) at four integration sites in the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape earlier this year