Waste recycling is often not strongly associated with job creation, but Carmen Rayner, owner of Whole Earth Recycling, explained that the industry is both environmentally and ethically profitable.
Rayner has worked for several years in the waste recycling industry, catering to suburbs in the Rosebank Killarney Gazette’s distribution area.
“Waste normally goes to landfills and when it gets there, it is usually very contaminated. Eventually the landfills will be full and the municipality will have to find sites further away [and as a result] our rates will go up,” she said.
“There are environmental and job creation reasons [as well]. Recycling will preserve virgin material,” said Rayner.
Rayner also stated that recycling offers a stable income for unskilled labourers who sort the material.
She explained that her company had a group of sorters called ‘the hawk flight’, who separated and sold the different recyclable materials once they were collected.
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For this service, residents are asked to put their recyclable dry waste in a blue bag. “We ask for separation at the source [in the household]. Dry waste includes plastic, paper, cardboard, glass, cartons, tetra packs, food and beverage cans,” said Rayner.
She noted that Craighall, Craighall Park, Parkhurst and Parkview were among the areas that were most active when it came to waste recycling.
Rayner explained that the municipality does not subsidise private waste recycling companies, but residents pay an extra monthly charge of about R65.
Residents are provided with a weekly pick up of their recyclable waste, with the exception of public holidays.
Details: 011 792 7572; www.wholeearth.co.za
