For years motorists have been ducking people with trolleys and filling up bags of refuse on the road.
People worldwide make a living collecting, sorting, recycling, and selling materials that someone else has thrown away.
In some countries, waste pickers provide the only form of solid waste collection and by providing this public benefit, they achieve high recycling rates.
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Waste pickers contribute to local economies, public health and safety and environmental sustainability.
While recognition for their contributions is growing in some places, they often face low social status, deplorable living and working conditions, and get little support from governments.
Increasingly, they face challenges due to competition for lucrative waste from powerful corporate entities.
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Economics and income
Lucas Mokoena is a waste collector from Makause informal settlement who started recycling in 2018.
He said what others see as waste, he sees as an opportunity to put bread on the table.
He collects waste and sorts the materials between paper, plastic, cans and polypropylene.
“We are able to generate an income of between R800 to R1 000 for a full bag, depending on who the buyer is and which product we are selling,” said Mokoena.
City of Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said waste pickers are supported through external stakeholders such as national and provincial government departments, producer responsibility organisations and other industry players.
“The municipality often facilitates engagements and interactions between waste pickers and these groups. The waste minimisation unit also supports waste pickers by organising training sessions such as entrepreneurship and business management short courses and recycling courses. In addition, the municipality procured 120 walk-in bulk containers and distributed them to the 119 informal settlements in the city,” said Dlamini.
He said the purpose of the containers is to curb illegal dumping and to promote recycling activities by offering an organised space for waste pickers to sort waste that they have collected into recyclables and non-recyclables.
The city has also, through the DFFE, managed to obtain PPE for some waste pickers, which has since been distributed.
“The city has a programme called Events Greening. When there is a big event like a festival, a cooperative/SMME that is located closest to the event area will collect recyclables during the event. The city negotiates with the event organisers and ensures that the reclaimers are paid fairly for the waste management service,” said Dlamini.
He said waste pickers are also integrated into waste management contracts where contractors are required to empower local waste pickers by supporting a local recycling initiative.
Some waste pickers are located at public offloading facilities that are serviced by contractors.
“The city constructed six recycling facilities that are being operated by waste pickers. Other waste management organisations and companies that wish to work with the city are always encouraged to use local waste pickers,” said Dlamini.
He said the municipality has approximately 1 250 informal reclaimers, with over 800 of them located at the four landfill sites where reclamation is allowed.
“How much waste pickers contribute to the economy is still a mystery, but we know that their contribution is huge,” said Dlamini.
Formalising the sector
The city through the partnership with Oxfam has started a process of visiting waste pickers and discussing ways in which they can be integrated into formal waste management.
This exercise was actioned by Ekurhuleni Waste Management Association.
“The intention is to have waste pickers in the city supplying their post-consumer HDPE plastic to the plastic factory, which is going to be built in Sebenza,” said Dlamini.
“We are confident that even though the current process only speaks to HDPE, it will be a starting point towards integration of the waste pickers.
“The city is also in a process of allocating waste pickers to some of the city’s facilities like transfer stations and mini-sites so they can minimise waste as it enters those sites,” he said.
Dlamini said CoE is considering an office paper recycling project that will give waste pickers another opportunity to increase their footprint and the amount of waste recovered.
Environment
During the Ekurhuleni waste crisis in 2022, waste collectors played a role in picking up waste.
“They play an important role in reducing waste. It became very important when we experienced a waste crisis in the city. The steps undertaken in integrating waste pickers into the formal waste management is seen as recognition towards the waste pickers,” said Dlamini.
He added that the introduction of the Ekurhuleni Waste Management Association is a step towards recognising the waste pickers.
“With more waste removal, less waste goes to landfills and contributes to the decreased use of raw materials, better air quality and cleaner groundwater,” said Dlamini.
He acknowledged that waste collectors remove tonnes of waste from city streets and keep it out of municipal landfills.
“They contribute to saving natural resources which would be used in producing products and save on costs or reduce expenses for disposal. Waste pickers contribute to public health by reducing the amount of waste normally dumped illegally.”
Illegal dumping and civilian action
Illegal dumping has been an ongoing issue across Ekurhuleni for years.
In recent reports, local councillors and residents in demand of service delivery raised concerns about illegal dumping.
“This is one of the biggest challenges in terms of health. Illegal dump sites cause the spread of bacteria, diseases, rodent infestations and water, soil, and air pollution.”
In September last year, the whip of council, Ald Khetha Shandu, warned residents of Elandsfontein about the dangers that come with illegal dumping.
He warned against the illegal dumping at Hattingh Street where trucks dumped rubble, soil and sand at a wetland.
Residents and businesses took a stand when the Primrose public parks overflowed with filth.
Ackerman’s Pharmacy in Primrose initiated the Primrose Cleaning and Maintenance Initiative and Zakhele Gumede, voluntarily, cleaned the Fishers Hill Park.
Klopperpark residents have on numerous occasions hosted community clean-up events when drainage systems were cleaned.
Dlamini urged residents to report illegal dumping and encouraged them to dispose of their waste in an approved manner.
Safety
“Waste pickers need to be identifiable. The best way would be to have tags or uniforms which will make them visible on the roads. This can be through reflective jackets.
“Waste pickers were recently issued with conti-suits, gloves and masks with the assistance of DFFE. The Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development occasionally distributes PPE and tools of the trade to assist waste pickers,” said Dlamini.
There is no application process as PPE is issued as and when available.
