Residents and reclaimers in Bordeaux have teamed up to establish a recycling system that has proven effective and may be a blueprint for neighbourhoods looking to follow suit.
This three-year-old partnership still has its challenges but an agreement between the African Reclaimers Organisation (ARO) and community members sees more than half the residents put their recyclable waste in separate bags for collection by an ARO tuck on Tuesdays, which is separate from the standard Pikitup collection that comes through to the area on Wednesdays.
The organisation recycles these materials, sometimes even repairing or making toys and objects that can be resold.
“The relationship between residents and reclaimers is great,” said Bordeaux South Residents Association chairperson, Trishana Moodley.
“Sixty per cent of residents put recyclable waste out for ARO. The community is very supportive of them and what they do.”
Resident Angela Schaerer, who was key in establishing the partnership, said they had found a sustainable solution to what some neighbourhoods see as a problem.
“Some areas don’t want the reclaimers because some [reclaimers] have had to live in green spaces and sometimes leave a mess but they are responsible for 90 per cent of Joburg’s recycling. They are important to the city and we need them,” she said.
“ARO helps residents communicate any issues they may have with the reclaimers, and as a result litter is down and ARO helps with any river clean-ups we have.”
Coordinator and organiser at ARO, Eli Kodisang said reclaimers were often given a bad rap in Joburg, so they set the organisation up in 2018 to give them a voice and the opportunity to interact with the community at an official level.
“We operate through the whole of Joburg and we are looking at expanding to Cape Town and other cities,” he told Randburg Sun.
“We want to define the work we do and remove misconceptions about us. Part of the demystification is our programmes visiting schools, residents associations, police and other organisations to help them understand us. We also help resolve problems between reclaimers and the community.”
ARO can be contacted through its Facebook page
Details: Bordeaux South Residents Association buzz@bsra.co.za
