Reclaimers bridge gap in Bordeaux
Bordeaux resident and ARO champion, Angela Schaerer, said they have changed how people think of reclaimers, and now ARO is entrenched in their community.
In Bordeaux, perceptions are shifting, and stigmas are being shattered, thanks to the efforts of the African Reclaimers Organisation (ARO). For years, reclaimers, known as waste pickers, have worked tirelessly to collect recyclable materials, yet their presence often remained invisible to the community they served. Now, through an effort to educate and build bridges, their role is finally being recognised and celebrated.
Luyanda Hlatshwayo, a spokesperson for ARO and a seasoned reclaimer with 13 years of experience, reflected on the journey toward changing perceptions. “Through a lot of education and getting the community to understand what this guy in the trolley is doing, everyone started understanding the process and started separating their waste,” Luyanda explained. “It is unmasking this invisible space that we are in.”
Central to this transformation is Angela Schaerer, a resident and champion who serves as the vital link between informal collectors and resident associations. “It was very important to have someone neutral who would be able to send messages. You see us every day, but you don’t communicate. You don’t ask why we are taking the materials, or why we are wearing a balaclava. So, it was very important to have someone who was able to explain to residents and to explain residents’ concerns to us also,” said Hlatshwayo.
Schaerer shared her perspective on the pivotal role of education in fostering understanding within the community. “Over time we did a few awareness sessions with the kids at the schools in Bordeaux, and that was the best way to educate because then the kids go home and say ‘Mommy, daddy why are we not recycling?’ and that gets the parents involved too.”
She explained that using a practical approach helped the children understand reclaiming. “All the kids walked along the road and then they came to the park, and we had an amazing session with them where they pretended to be reclaimers and then collected rubbish and sorted it.”
Recognising the challenges faced by reclaimers in gated communities like Bordeaux, Schaerer emphasized the need for inclusivity and compassion. “I have noticed that in gated communities, by putting up fences and gates, we are restricting access. The reason we started this partnership was to try and integrate our community and not just see ourselves as the residents as forming part of the community but there are lots of people who form part of this community including the reclaimers.”
As perceptions evolve and stigmas dissolve, Bordeaux is embracing a new sense of unity and solidarity. “The perceptions in the community have changed. We have changed how people think of reclaimers, and now ARO is entrenched in our community,” said Schaerer.
Related Article: Blairgowrie residents concerned over falling electricity pole
