How to support waste reclaimers

Separate before collection

Households can discard organic, dry and sanitary waste in separate, marked bags for easier handling. Recyclable materials can also be sorted before being discarded. Glass, paper, metal, plastic, textiles and electronics can be separated and put into different bags or containers.

Keep recycling heroes safe

The Covid-19 pandemic has put a spotlight on the health risks that reclaimers face, but these dangers date back much further than 2020. The Global Waste Pickers Alliance recommends that members of the public should separate, wash and disinfect their recyclable materials for collection. Households can also ensure that tissues, medical waste and other possibly contaminated materials are placed in clearly marked bags and not mixed in with recyclable waste.

On municipal waste collection days, people can also put out soapy or bleached water for reclaimers to wash their hands in; a small gesture that will go a long way to help reclaimers stay safe.

Appreciate the efforts of ‘waste warriors’

Acknowledging waste pickers as important roleplayers in the waste recycling system and essential workers in the circular economy legitimises their contributions. This is according to Simon Mbata, who is the chairman of the South African Waste Pickers Association. He says donations of PPE (personal protective equipment) helps bring dignity to waste pickers and fosters the respect of the communities they operate in.

These communities must become custodians of the recycling that happens on their streets, and look out for waste reclaimers, who often face harassment, stigmatisation and intimidation during the execution of their daily duties. One way to do this is for community groups to partner with waste reclaimers to maximise the environmental impact of recycling efforts, while supporting the people who drive these initiatives.

Individuals who want to further support

waste pickers in their recycling efforts can

reach out to organisations like the African

Reclaimers Organisation (ARO) (https://

www.africanreclaimers.org/) for more information.