Van Dyk Park resident launches association to assist amateur recyclers
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, which rings true for many who make a living out of a recycling.
Movers and shakers in the recycling business around Ekurhuleni have partnered to empower one another with the aim of changing the face of waste management in the metro.
The Ekurhuleni Waste Management Association (EWMA) was established on April 11.
Mandla Nkosi from Van Dyk Park, who makes a living through recycling, launched the association.
Since the EWMA’s establishment, 40 different co-operatives and Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMME) that are in the business of waste management have joined the association.
Nkosi, who is the chairperson for the EWMA, said: “Our aim is to unite and grow all waste management and recycling businesses in Ekurhuleni. The association will provide training and assist our members through the compliance processes.
“We will also help them register with the Ekurhuleni metro to operate lawfully. All Ekurhuleni sub-regions will be in our database so we can share information.”
Nkosi said they plan to have one centre with all recycling machinery.
“We will also develop what we call a waste pickers information care centre, will educate communities on separation of sources and develop an Ekurhuleni Waste Management Academy to train people about the importance of recycling,” Nkosi said.
According to the EWMA chairperson, they have engaged other entities that are going to provide recyclers with trolleys, refuse bags and bins.
The EWMA offices are situated on the corner of Railway and Kruger streets, alongside the Boksburg East train station (opposite the Boksburg SPCA).
The association is inviting all co-operatives and SMMEs within Ekurhuleni in the waste management business to contact Sipho Radebe (secretary) on 065 863 4364 or Nomthandazo Mpande (deputy secretary) on 072 015 4446.
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