15 September is National Recycling Day and serves as a reminder not only to recycle, but also to separate your waste to make recycling easier for waste pickers who form an integral part of the recycling system and our society.
Reclaimers fill a critical gap in South Africa’s waste management system, where – in some areas – waste management services are non-existent. In fact, many of these reclaimers are members of the African Reclaimers Organisation (ARO). The organisation was founded in 2018 and together, they have since been making a difference on our landfills and in our streets.
ARO spokesperson and business development manager, Luyanda Hlatshwayo says: “When informal reclaimers were first seen on our streets they were often stigmitised in our society, but people are beginning to understand the essential role we play wen it comes to recycling. It is important for citizens to value reclaimers and for us as reclaimers to be proud of the contribution we make.”
Honestly, these reclaimers are making a huge contribution. So much so that the ARO became the first winner of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)’s Living Planet Award for Organisations in 2021. The organisation has more than 6000 members and focuses on Joburg’s northern sububrs (Saxonwold to Midrand) and central areas like Braamfontien, Parktown, Auckland Park and Brixton.
Adding to this, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) states that close to 90 000 South Africans work as informal recyclers. In essence, they collect close to 90% of all materials that are recycled.
Informal waste reclaimers collect discarded items that would normally end up in landfills and the environment. Then, they sell these to buy-back centres for recycling. Ultimately, the work they do saves municipalities up to R780 million in landfill space alone. That does not even include the savings in waste removal trucking and fuel.
Since today is National Recycling Day, perhaps it is a good idea to learn more about ARO and what they do. Click here to learn more.
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