A team of 50 Johannesburg waste pickers has collected more than 700,000kg of plastic recyclables over the past eight months.
The value of the haul is more than R1.4m, and as an added bonus residents can track their progress every day.
The team was assembled in November last year under the initiative Urban Surfer - Informal Recycling Solutions, which focuses on integrating waste pickers into the recycling value chain.
Urban Surfer uses branded sponsorship to give the recyclers equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE). Their partnership comparison site, Hippo, enables the team's progress to be measured in real time.
So far the recyclers have walked 19,000km to collect and sell waste.
A study by the UN Industrial Development Organization in 2020 found that waste pickers “play a substantial role in the waste management industry of the country, collecting 80% to 90% of used recyclables collected on an annual basis”.
Urban Surfer’s head of design and development John Kullmann said the organisation aims to improve working conditions, “create awareness around the value informal reclaimers bring and change policy to increase our waste reclaimers’ earning potential”.
Kullmann said the quality equipment and PPE gives the waste reclaimers a sense of belonging.
“They are far more accepted by the public and businesses, which gives them greater access to recyclable waste.”
They are not dumpster divers. They perform an important and free civic service, especially in suburbs where the need is greater than ever before. Waste reclaimers are creating a better city for all of us and we encourage Joburg residents and fellow corporates to support their vital work
— Bradley Du Chenne, CEO Hippo
The recyclers come from Alexandra township where the first cleanups took place, but the teams have been relocated to Sandton and The Parks areas.
“Our goal is to have as much coverage in residential areas as possible, as the reclaimers who collect waste in the suburbs are able to collect more recyclables than those in Alex.
“By deploying more trolleys into those focus areas, Urban Surfer is maximising its impact,” Kullmann said.
One members of the team, Kagiso Monaise, opened a buy-back store in Alex from his income.
He said he learned that his opportunities were not limited and he could use the money to expand his new business.
Hippo CEO Bradley Du Chenne said: “Informal waste reclaimers have created their own form of green jobs and make significant environmental and economic contributions.
“They ultimately provide a free recycling service to the areas in which they operate and we are encouraged by the progress made in a relatively short time.”
Du Chenne said there is an unjustified stigma around waste reclaimers.
“They are not dumpster divers. They perform an important and free civic service, especially in suburbs where the need is greater than ever before. Waste reclaimers are creating a better city for all of us and we encourage Joburg residents and fellow corporates to support their vital work.”
TimesLIVE
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