Recycle business owner seeks community assistance
The recycling business has been helping a lot of poorer communities survive tough times, but with the prices dropping from time to time, it has not been easy for those who depend on it.
The recycling business is one of the major sources of income for many poverty-stricken residences of Lindelani.
With more than half of the residences unemployed, some turn their hopes to recycling to feed their families.
For Daniel Taper, who makes a living out of recycling, the business has not been booming over the past five years. He started recycling in 1988 while a resident of Zonkizizwe, in Ekurhuleni. He later moved to Lindelani for greener pastures, only to face new challenges that came with the territory.
I joined the business in the late 80s because of my struggles and unemployment. Back then, a kilogram of paper, boxes, plastic or any other recyclable material was worth R5.
I used to earn a profit of about R1000 or more every time I went to sell my stock. It kept on dropping till it reached R3, then the price dropped to R1 a kilogram in February this year,” said Taperi.
“The problem now is that there is no profit in the recycling industry. The price of a single kilogram has dropped drastically over the years, there is no progress anymore.
“I used to send money to my family in Zonkizizwe to support my four grandchildren who have now grown up. Currently I cannot even buy myself enough food to sustain myself for a month.
The price for hiring a truck or a van to load my stock is now R300, and most of the time my stock weigh 10kg with takings of R500, so with the remainder after paying off the transport, I am left with nothing,” he explained.
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The recycling business has helped a lot of communities. Taper feels that they deserve to be treated as important contributors to the economy, as well as keeping the environment clean.
I need help with transportation to carry my load at a cheaper price. I am ill, and sometimes community members donate food supplies to me since my business is not doing well.
“I need someone to help me with trolleys, overalls for work, gloves and safety masks to protect myself from dust particles which may have contributed to my ill health,” said Taper.
Taper can be contacted on 081 160 0380.
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