Over the 18th and 19th November 2021, the Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s), Urban Futures Centre (UFC) is co-hosting an exciting online workshop on waste picker integration. The two-day workshop allows participants to hear from waste picker/reclaimers experts themselves, and the programme features contributions from members of waste picker associations in the country; the South African Waste Pickers Association (SAWPA) and the African Reclaimers Organisation (ARO). Speakers from several provinces will share their experiences and insights, drawing on the various recycling and material recovery projects they have helped initiate.

The workshop runs for 2 hours each day (13:00pm – 15:00pm) and forms part of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Waste Picker Integration Webinar Series. The UFC@DUT are co-hosting the workshop with partners from the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), groundwork (gW), the University of the Witwatersrand, Asiye eTafuleni, and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

The presentations will show how innovations from waste pickers and reclaimers offer several benefits, including environmental benefits by reducing waste to landfill, providing critical livelihoods for many people, and offering educational resources for communities on the importance of recycling and reuse.

“These projects offer important learnings for the integration of waste pickers/reclaimers into more sustainable waste management systems. The workshop opens up opportunities for us to learn from one another through sharing practices that build solidarity for a more just and sustainable approach to waste in our cities and towns,” explains Dr Kira Erwin (UFC) who is chairing the two-day workshop.

Day One included the speakers, Eva Mokoena (African Reclaimers Organisation -Brixton and Auckland Park Recycling Projects), talking on public education campaigns and public health campaigns during COVID-19. Mantwa Mokoena (Majakatha Recycling Cooperative in Boipatong) focusing her talk on providing jobs and livelihoods for people, as well as Lefa Mononga (Ratanang Ma Africa Secondary Cooperative in Bloemfontein), explaining how to grow work through expanding from one to three co-operatives.

Day Two is looking at topics pertaining to how municipal officials and waste pickers/reclaimers work and the possibilities for integration.

This last session looks at thinking through possibilities for integration and how municipal officials and waste pickers/reclaimers may take up some of these opportunities and address obstacles to integration.

The workshop is especially designed for municipal officials and waste pickers/reclaimers to discuss learnings from these projects, but all interested groups working towards integration of waste pickers/reclaimers are most welcome.

Pictured: Municipal officials and waste pickers/reclaimers coming together to share their insight into recycling.

Waheeda Peters