Waste pickers affiliated to the South African Waste Pickers Association (SAWPA) marched to the City of Johannesburg offices in Braamfontein on Tuesday to demand compensation for collecting recyclables and to oppose plans to incinerate waste. Photos: Kimberly Mutandiro
Kimberly Mutandiro reports in Groundup that the marchers represent over 10,000 registered and 100,000-200,000 unregistered waste pickers working across the country. They demand that the City of Johannesburg stop the planned waste incineration site, which threatens their livelihoods, and seek compensation. They call for the implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Scheme, ensuring compensation for collecting recyclables via a levy on producing companies.
Lefa Mononga, SAWPA Coordinator, stated that the EPR Scheme was launched in 2021 as a five-year project to organize and register waste pickers for compensation, but no payments have been made yet. SAWPA urges the City to adopt zero-waste projects to create more jobs and demands that the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment implement EPR Scheme regulations and discuss levies collected from companies.
The City and Department representatives accepted the group’s memorandum.
Nomalizo Ntsizana, a waste picker for ten years, emphasized the environmental importance of waste picking and called for protective clothing, motorbikes, and trolleys to facilitate their work. Nonhlanhla Nqobo from Pietermaritzburg highlighted her struggle since local landfills closed, stressing the need for government recognition and support to care for their families.
SAWPA’s primary demand is for the City of Johannesburg to implement zero-waste projects to generate employment.
The South African Waste Pickers Association wants the City of Johannesburg to implement zero-waste projects that can create more jobs.
