Help local waste pickers with masks and gloves
Despite their challenges, Oxfam has donated 300 sanitisers to the EWMA, which will be shared to various waste pickers
With the easing of the lockdown to level four, recyclers in Boksburg are now breathing a sigh of relief after four weeks of no income.
According to recyclers, though they have been allowed to operate like any other businesses under strict guidelines, they have been facing challenges which have made their jobs difficult to navigate.
Mandla Nkosi, chairperson of the Ekurhuleni Waste Management Association (EWMA), said: “We are happy that we have been allowed to function under level four, but most of the recycling companies where we sell our materials have been closed due to the lockdown.
ALSO READ:
Golden Gloves speaks about boxing
“The bottle company where we sell used bottles has not been operating since the lockdown was instituted. This causes a challenge because we are losing revenue; hence we just pile up the bottles in one place.”
He highlighted that the decreasing rates for boxes have severely affected their pockets. Despite their challenges, Oxfam has donated 300 sanitisers to the EWMA which will be shared to various waste pickers.
“We are appealing to the municipality to assist waste pickers with working permits and information on how to access the government’s relief funds for small businesses. We are also appealing to the public to help keep us protected from contracting illnesses such as Covid-19 by sorting their recyclable materials, like bottles, papers, boxes or cans, in a separate bag,” Nkosi said.
The EWMA urges recyclers to use gloves and masks as well as wash their hands regularly with a sanitiser where possible. All buyback centres are also urged to have strict control measures for social distancing as well as providing sanitisers before any transactions.
“We would also like to appeal to local businesses or the municipality to donate masks and gloves to recyclers in Boksburg,” Nkosi said.
Anyone who would like to donate can phone Nkosi on 061 537 2237.
The EWMA, which was established on April 11, comprises 40 cooperatives and small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs) in the business of waste management. The aim of EWMA is to unite and grow all waste management and recycling businesses in Ekurhuleni.
ALSO READ:
Follow us on these social media platforms:
