Solution to litter a walk in the park

ASOLUTION has finally been found to the problem of informal recyclers in the James & Ethel Gray Park in Melrose.

Residents have been complaining for years to Metrowatch about the mess the recyclers apparently made in the park.

Now the Melrose North Residents and Ratepayers Association have come up with an innovative solution.

According to the association’s chairperson James Peech, a committee member, Lisa Lowenthal, pointed out there were five waste recycle pickers living in the park – who have openly done so for years.

“The reality is there are people living in the park on a permanent, albeit illegal, basis. The fact this could encourage illegal squatters to move in is a concern. With this in mind, Lisa devised a waste-management and env i ro nmental pilot project in collaboration with residents, represented by the association, CAP Security, Joburg City Parks and Zoo, waste buyers and the waste pickers.

“It is an approach with benefits for all concerned,” Peech said.

The people living in the park are now known to the local residents and their active involvement in keeping the park and the suburb clean contributes to a safer, cleaner and more attractive environment.

It also enabled the recyclers to earn a living and give them a proud sense of making a contribution to the community, Peech added.

The local residents have been encouraged to put out “dry” waste on pavements in bags sorted by plastic, paper and cans on Mondays and normal food and “wet” waste on Tuesdays for Pikitup to collect.

The private security company would manage recyclers’ information, provide them with panic buttons, and create a database of those living and working in the park and at the dump.

City Parks would manage the recyclers, provide black bags and collect rubbish daily, provide rakes and equipment to maintain the area, and conduct monthly inspections.

The waste buyers would conduct environmental management, collect twice a week and ensure that waste pickers’ bags were accounted for.

The waste pickers, in turn, would collect and manage neighbourhood and park litter, manage illegal dumping of rubble, manage neighbourhood security in acting as the eyes and ears of the neighbourhood, contact the security company with panic buttons if they noticed anything suspicious, and manage the influx of new waste pickers by contacting the security company, which would contact the Joburg metro police department.

“Lisa has put endless energy and effort into this project, spending many hours interacting and thrashing out a viable project.

“Our hopes are that an issue which had the potential to become a serious problem will be turned into a win-win for all concerned,” Peech said.

The pickers are now proudly kitted out by the residents’ association in smart black overalls with glimmer bands, clearly identifying them as waste pickers in Melrose North, he added.

Potential crisis turned into a win-win for all

@annacox