Pickitup’s new waste management model launched

City of Joburg MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services, councillor Mpho Moerane has launched Pikitup’s new co-production model at the company’s Southdale depot on 3 February.

The co-production model is expected to create 2 025 employment opportunities in all the regions of Johannesburg and is supportive of the #KleenaJoburgReloaded clean-up campaign, in addition to augmenting Pikitup’s operations. In terms of the model, each ward in the city will be capacitated with 15 Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) employees who will assist with waste management issues.

“This model entails the appointment of cooperatives, non-profit companies and exempted micro-enterprises, to ensure improved integrated waste management services in the city of Johannesburg,” explained Moerane. Pikitup has appointed 48 such companies that will in turn appoint Expanded Public Works Programme workers to assist with the management of litter-picking, street cleaning and conducting education and awareness programmes.

During the launch, Moerane emphasised the importance of taking ownership of the city’s cleanliness by all who reside in it. “It is easy to blame the government for everything each time our city is littered with trash. However, as we launch this programme today to help enhance the cleanliness in our streets, it is important for us to note that the responsibility to keep our city clean remains with all of us,” he said.

He also warned the cooperative to hire people who reside in their wards because such people would be responsible for ensuring that local residents did not litter nor dispose of waste illegally. Although the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department  is responsible for bylaw enforcement, which includes arresting and imposing fines on people who litter and those who dump waste illegally, their efforts were insufficient because of a range of reasons. As such, Moerane emphasised that educating residents about the importance of a clean environment was the best option available to ensure a cleaner Joburg.

He said the work of the appointed cooperatives, non-governmental organisations and micro-enterprises were critical in ensuring that Joburg rids itself of the tag of being a dirty city. He also said the EPWP workers who would be employed must also be responsible for recording and reporting incidences such as potholes, dysfunctional traffic lights, leaking pipes, and monitoring of and managing illegal dumping spots ensuring that dumping did not recur in future.

Moerane stressed that the people who were going to be employed must be given Covid-19 protective clothing. “I do not want to be called and be asked how is it possible that half of the people who have been employed are now Covid-19 positive.

“Covid-19 is serious, and I urge all the cooperatives who will be employing the people to ensure that their employees are protected against the virus.” Moerane appealed to the cooperatives to work with ward councillors to mitigate possible cases of people who might demand to be employed without following the correct processes.