No time to waste as young men find hope in recycling
The two youngsters said weekly they earn about R700.
Like any other young person, waste recyclers Mthokozisi Mbatha (28) and Mpho Mahlonoko (28) had dreams and aspirations.
However, due to hardships, their dreams became a forgotten reality. These two young men then ventured into waste management to address the persistent challenges of unemployment and poverty they were faced with.
Mthokozisi, who was studying to be a boilermaker at the Ekurhuleni East College Daveyton campus, said he had to drop out after NSFAS withdrew his funding because he failed some subjects.
“Following the death of my father in 2015, my life changed drastically.
“I moved from home in Cloverdene to look for work in Benoni. Luckily, after months of searching for employment, I met Lucky Mkhize of Actonvillle, who manages the informal buy-back centre at Willowmore Secondary School tennis court in Liverpool Road.
“He told me I can make money from recycling. I didn’t know anything about recycling but he showed me the ropes. I gained valuable knowledge on handling waste.”
Mthokozisi, who recycles a range of items, said he wakes up at 04:00 each morning and goes to areas like Farramere, Northmead and Westdene to look for what he calls his “treasure”.
“If I leave early, by 08:00 I’m already back to start sorting the waste. In this recycling game, you have to be the early bird to catch the worm because there are so many of us.
“What I’ve noticed is that as a waste picker, you need to look presentable and clean because residents tend to have trust issues when they bring their dustbins out.”
Mthokozisi said he earns about R700 a week, depending on how much effort he puts in for that week.
“The waste sector is very important because we make a positive and significant impact on the environment.”
One of the challenges they face in their line of work is the lack of proper working facilities (shelter).
“During the rainy season, we don’t work as we normally would because we work in the rain with minimal protection and our recycling items are affected.”
While Mthokozisi wishes to expand his recycling business, he also has dreams of completing his studies.
Mpho dropped out of the Vaal University of Technology while studying information technology. He started waste picking this year.
He thanked Lucky for welcoming him and introducing him to recycling after many years of being homeless and without direction.
While waste pickers do not have access to any kind of state sponsorship, the two youngsters and their mentor, Lucky, are appealing for mobile toilets, mobile guard rooms, roof structures to protect their recyclables during the rainy season, recycling tools (such as a baling machine for their informal buy-back centre at Willowmore Secondary School).
To donate or for more information, contact Lucky on 067 134 3056 or 071 392 5329.
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